MN Senate Approves Bill to Block Walz From Closing Schools

The Minnesota Senate has approved a renewed Republican attempt to rescind Democratic Governor Tim Walz’s emergency authority to close schools amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The GOP-controlled Senate passed the bill Thursday 40-27 with four Democrats and two Independents siding with Republicans. It came one day after the Democratic Governor announced a plan to speed up the return of students to school for in-person classes.

The vote was largely symbolic. The DFL-controlled House rejected a similar proposal last week. It’s rebuffed all previous Republican attempts to revoke the Governor’s emergency powers.