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Title: Letter from Senator Matt Klein to Senator Paul Gazelka Regarding Senate COVID-19 Cases
Article Date: 11/17/2020
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Type: Other
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File: klein_senate-covid-response_letter-p1-large.pdf 

Text: To: Majority Leader Gazelka
Senator Miller Senator Jasinski
Senator Abeler Senator Johnson
Senator Benson Senator Pratt
Senator Chamberlain Senator Rarick
Senator Draheim Senator Ruud
Senator Howe Senator Utke
Senator Ingebrigsten Senator Westrom

CC: Cal Ludeman
Annette Gretke
John Pollard


Majority Leader Gazelka,

On Monday, it was revealed that Senator Relph had tested positive for COVID-19. This brings the total
number of Senate Republicans who have contracted the virus following the in-person caucus meeting and
subsequent dinner on November 5 to four. Despite this revelation it remains unclear how many
Republican Senators or staff have been tested or the results of those tests. Many of us and our staff joined
your members on the floor for special session on November 12 ,with no knowledge of these
circumstances, despite the fact that your staff had been warned to stay home two days previously.

In the interest of the health of our fellow members of the Senate, Senate staff, and their families, I ask
your caucus to share with us the trajectory of infection since the caucus and dinner on November 5- how
many members and staff have been tested, how many have experienced symptoms, and how many
positive tests have returned. Of those, in each category, how many attended the special session on
November 12. I am also asking Secretary Ludeman for assistance in pursuit of this request.

I also continue to care for patients on a regular basis, and for their safety, I hope you will provide the
necessary information. As public officials, we must do the right thing by demonstrating transparency and
modeling the behavior we are asking workplaces to follow across our state. While senators have a unique
power of advocacy in these circumstances, we recognize that there are thousands of employees in every
part of our state who, faced with a similar situation, would have no recourse to protect themselves.

This information can be shared in a way that respects privacy concerns, by not naming individual
members. It is an essential step to protect all of our members, staff, their families, their communities, and
in my case, my patients.

Thank you for your assistance,

Senator Matt Klein
Senate District 52


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