Text: November 23, 2020Dear Legislative Leaders,As cases skyrocket and hospital capacity is pushed to the brink, the COVID-19 pandemic demandsimmediate action to save lives. Necessary public health measures bring hardship for all Minnesotans--but this hardship falls disproportionately hard on our small businesses and workers.Minnesota business leaders have been doing everything they can to keep businesses and workplacessafe as we navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. But with community spread at an all-time high, any placewe gather is now more dangerous than it was a month ago. We know this is especially true in placeswhere people gather for long periods of time and are not consistently masked. That is why we had to hitpause last week on many of the activities that bring the most joy to our lives--watching a football gamewith a buddy at a bar, celebrating a family birthday at a restaurant, or hitting the gym with your runningpartner.This is not fair. The pandemic is not fair, and it is our job as leaders to make it more just. Smallbusinesses across our state are in dire need of relief. Many workers are struggling to make ends meet.As we take action to protect the health of our neighbors, we must also take action to support the peoplewho are sacrificing so much.The federal government has the most power and resources at its disposal to provide the supportMinnesotans need and deserve right now. That is why I wrote a letter to Congressional leaders last weekcalling for immediate action on COVID-19 relief. I will continue partnering with the members of ourfederal delegation as they push for support from Washington.But we can't wait for the federal government. Minnesota businesses and workers can't wait. We musttake every action we can at the state level to support Minnesotans. We must provide relief to smallbusinesses that are the economic backbone of our state. We must give direct assistance to Minnesotanswho are out of work. We must turn every stone.That's why I directed my team to begin work on a comprehensive COVID-19 relief package for oursmall businesses and communities. We have laid out the principles around which a package should bestructured. I know legislators on both sides of the aisle have engaged on this issue and been workingtirelessly to find common ground, and I will continue working with you to get a deal done.Let's come together to ensure our businesses stay afloat, our workers are supported, and our familiescan put food on the table. I will call a special session as soon as the legislature agrees on a package toprovide this much-needed relief.Sincerely, Tim WalzGovernor