North Hennepin News

Sen. Mary Kiffmeyer recently wrote a letter to her constituents expressing her knowledge that many of them are frustrated with Gov. Tim Walz's mandatory mask order.

"Gov. Walz recently issued a statewide mask mandate," Kiffmeyer wrote. "Many Minnesotans are understandably frustrated with this unilateral decision. Since he announced his peacetime emergency powers in March, he has ordered statewide business closures, restricted local control and held onto his powers for far too long."

Kiffmeyer states that Walz has implemented this order without the input from state lawmakers.

"This mask mandate is just one more thing Gov. Walz has implemented without any input from the legislature or from Minnesotans," Kiffmeyer wrote.

Kiffmeyer added that the executive orders aren't meant to "be kept indefinitely." She said that fellow lawmakers have voted to overturn the executive order. However, she said the DFL controlled House stands with the governor.

"We have made the same argument from the beginning – the governor’s executive orders are designed to prepare us in case of emergency, they are not designed to be kept indefinitely," Kiffmeyer wrote. "We have voted twice to revoke his emergency powers and reestablish order. Unfortunately, the DFL controlled House refuses to join us so Gov. Walz’s authority remains unchallenged."