Some 100,000 Minnesotans could be back on the job next week. Gov. Tim Walz unveiled a set of protocols Thursday to permit manufacturers, and other businesses that aren’t customer facing to restart and let employees return to work as soon as Monday, providing there are safe-distance, sanitizing and other protocols in place and executives commit to enforce them.
Schools will remain closed for this year, and possibly longer. Asked if parents should expect distance learning to continue into the next school year? Walz, a former high school teacher and coach, conceded: "The answer is I don't know yet on fall." He said it was under study. "I worry deeply on this,” Walz said of students potentially falling behind because of the strain of distance learning and the lack of face-to-face contact with teachers and peers. “I mean these are decisions that will reverberate through a lifetime potentially. We know what educational research shows if you fall a grade or two behind.”
Minnesota Republicans are continuing their fight against DFLers' voting safety measures. Via Tim Pugmire: "Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka, R-East Gull Lake, says he strongly opposes an expansion of voting by mail . He is concerned about the potential for voter fraud. Gazelka noted that his caucus recently set aside a proposed photo ID requirement for voting. 'I am very concerned about election integrity and making sure that every vote is legitimate,' Gazelka said." As I've written in this newsletter before, those with expertise on the matter say mail-in voting is safe.
Some more details on the voting bill in question. Also via Tim: "The House State Government Finance Committee advanced an elections bill Thursday on an 11-7 party line vote that Democrats and Republicans had negotiated. The bill allows more time this year for local officials to designate polling places. Health care workers would be allowed to help with absentee voting in nursing homes and other care facilities and local officials would get more time to process absentee ballots."
Congress has passed another COVID-19 relief package. Via NPR: "The House approved the latest measure to prop up the U.S. economy and provide aid to the health care system after deploying an elaborate voting system to allow lawmakers to vote while practicing social distancing. The measure passed overwhelmingly — 388-5, with one lawmaker voting present. The Senate approved the legislation on Tuesday and it now heads to President Trump who has said he will sign it. ... The $484 billion package includes an additional $321 billion for the newly created Paycheck Protection Program, a lending program designed to help small businesses stay afloat with forgivable loans during the crisis. PPP was popular and ran out of its initial influx of $350 billion in just two weeks. It is likely the program will need additional funding. Republicans have criticized Democrats for holding up the bill — initially a stand alone $250 billion request to fund PPP.
