A group of legislators in the Minnesota House introduced a bill that would mandate the wearing of masks, or face coverings, in public public places. HF604 was introduced on Monday by Rep Sydney Jordan of Minneapolis and has 12 co-authors. 

The bill would require all Minnesotans over the age five to wear a face covering when they are:

1. indoors at a business or public setting

2. waiting outdoors to enter and indoor business or indoor public setting;

3. riding on public transportation, in a school transportation vehicle, in a ride-sharing vehicle, or in a vehicle being used for a business purpose;

4. outdoors when it is not possible to maintain social distancing from others who are not members of the individual's household, or

5. in a common area of a multi-unit dwelling

If the bill becomes law, businesses would be required to follow the guidelines and ensure workers adhere to the mandate. If they violate it, they could be sued by the government and fined up to $25,000. Business owners also could serve up 90 days in jail. Individual violators over the age 14 would be guilty of a petty misdemeanor and fined $100.

HF604 mirrors Governor Tim Walz' horrendous executive order that mandates mask wearing. The bill currently has no companion bill in the Minnesota Senate. 

Action 4 Liberty stands solidly against Governor Walz' illegal and unconstitutional orders and HF604 which seeks to make Walz' orders permanent. This anti-liberty legislation needs to be killed and Governor Walz' Emergency Powers MUST be terminated.

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A group of Republican and Democrat legislators are crafting a Fake End Walz' Powers bill in a special committee in St Paul that meets only once a week, for 1 and a half hours at a time. Although politicians on both sides of the aisle point to the committee as a potential solution to the 11 months of unchecked powers that Governor Walz' has enjoyed under his self declared "emergency", it is clear to us this committee will achieve nothing good.

In the last ten minutes of Friday's committee hearing, things got heated up when Rep Pat Garofalo (R-Farmington) asked if any Democrats were serious about actually ending the Governor's emergency powers. It became evident at that moment that the committee's real purpose is to not end them, but to set parameters for the powers to continue on indefinitely, perhaps allowing only some minor input from the legislature. The Governor is currently holding the legislature hostage with his demands of passing bills to cement parts of his executive orders, such as a universal mask mandate, into permanent law.

Responding to Garofalo's question, Rep Dave Lislegard (DFL-Aurora) got a tad angry and accused supporters of Ending Walz' Emergency Powers as "far right, wack jobs" who are "intimidating members on the committee". Republican House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt (R-Spectacle Lake) joined Lislegard condemning supporters of Ending Walz' Emergency Powers, stating that he's heard of "crazy, wack jobs, showing up outside members homes, trying to intimidate them".

What Daudt and Lislegard are likely referring to is good, old fashion activists who are petitioning their government for a redress of their grievances. This is such an old and important practice, that it is a right identified in the First Amendment. Only a crony politician would call voters voicing their opinions to representatives, "intimation". 

Even more concerning is this holier-than-though statement on "showing up, outside their homes". Where are voters supposed to go when the state capitol building is closed to the public, and legislators are working remotely from their homes during the 2021 Session? It's also fascinating to see the hypocrisy of the political class when it comes to the sacredness of a person's home residence. Certainly Democrats, the Party of John Thompson, shouldn't be lecturing us on it. But even Daudt is mired in the hypocrisy of "rules for thee, but not for me". These politicians all knock on our doors to earn a vote every election cycle. So isn't equally legitimate for a voter to knock on the door of their homes to ask for a vote?

Despite the best attempt by these politicians, Action 4 Liberty will continue reaching out to voters in targeted districts across the state to get these legislators voting the right way. And if they don't come along, we'll do everything in our power to make sure they don't get re-elected again in 2022.

All 70 Democrats in the Minnesota House voted another time yesterday to spit on our democratic process by protecting Governor Walz' illegal and unconstitutional use of emergency powers. The vote was brought forward on a motion to recall House Concurrent Resolution 1 from Committee. If passed, the Resolution would need a simple majority vote in the Minnesota Senate, and then Walz' peacetime powers would be terminated.

4 Republicans were unable to sign in for yesterday's session, despite the ease in attending remote sessions. Reps Dave Baker, Glenn Gruenhagen, Joe McDonald, and Tama Theis were not present.

Here's the vote:

Governor Walz released his proposed two year budget for Minnesota and it appears he is going to do his part in growing our dependence on Big Government while also increasing taxes on some Minnesotans to redistribute to others. His proposal would raise taxes by nearly $2 Billion on businesses in Minnesota and expand government spending to its highest level of over $52 Billion, or a 9% increase. Meanwhile, businesses in Minnesota are under assault by his Administration and some are even fleeing the state.

The most egregious part of Walz' tax plan is that he would create a fifth tax bracket in Minnesota (note, there were only three a decade ago before Governor Dayton). This tax bracket would rob business owners who would use the money for hiring more workers or making other investments in the private sector. No shocker, the tax is sold as people paying their "fair share". Although that income bracket already pays the largest portion of Minnesota income tax.

Instead of delivering massive tax reductions and reducing the size and scope of government during this depressed economy, Walz is trying to grow the state government. It's a true slap in the face to the thousands of Minnesota small businesses who saw their income drop significantly as a direct result of Walz' actions. On top of that, several business in the state are currently being harassed by Walz' Dept of Health, which will also see a sharp budget increase. 

All in all, the media hyped up the false story that our state was facing a budget deficit. So Governor Walz decided to "solve" the budget shortfall by sticking his hands in our pockets and make us pay more. 

Republican Senators were quick to message against the Governor's call for more taxes, but stand in a comprised position after conceding two years ago to a tax increase when extending the provider tax on health care visits. 

Action 4 Liberty opposes ALL tax increases.

Pressure keeps building up against Governor Walz' Emergency Powers. Now even the mainstream media is noticing the ridiculousness of his unilateral law making. 

In an interview with Channel 6 News a week ago, Governor Walz told reporter Betsy Singer:

If we just have one person telling us what to do, we wouldn't have to have all these heartfelt disagreements. But I just hope we can reestablish this sense of decorum, and decency, and civility, that has always been a hallmark of America's democracy.

Democracy?! What democracy? There's nothing more anti-democracy than a Governor creating unilateral laws that are destroying businesses and harming Minnesotans!

I think Betsy was so shocked that he said that, she did something the rest of the mainstream media won't do - allow the opposing viewpoint. Channel 6 was willing to allow our voice to be heard on tv. Here's my interview:

You see, Chapter 12 Emergency Powers laws were not written to allow a Governor to declare an indefinite "emergency" so he can rule by himself, without the Legislature. Walz has essentially eliminated the relevancy of the legislative branch of our Republic.

And the courts, media and ruling elite have allowed it to happen for 11 months!

But everyday Governor Walz' unchecked, unilateral powers continue and our beloved small businesses fail, more people are waking up to what is happening to our state and country. We continue to grow in strength and power on a daily basis.

Which is why I'm happy to announce that another vote to End Walz' Emergency Powers will be coming up this Thursday thanks to liberty champion, Representative Erik Mortensen. He is willing to once again stand up to the political class in St Paul, and force a vote on the End Walz' Emergency Powers Resolution.

Unfortunately, we still have an obstacle in the way of it passing: the six Democrats who recently betrayed their voters - Reps Gene Pelowski, Paul Marquart, Dave Lislegard, Julie Sandstede, Mike Sundin and Rob Ecklund.

Despite voting to End Walz' Emergency Powers back in 2020 - when it was "easy" - they are now showing their true colors! All six of them have switched their votes. What a bunch of con artists!

In other words, their votes last year to End Walz' Emergency Powers were nothing more than a con. We finally have the numbers to win and they are cowering to the Democrat elites. What a shame.

So we're hitting them where it hurts the most - the voters. Action 4 Liberty is now doing daily lit drops in their districts, running radio ads, crafting newspaper ads, conducting phone call campaigns, submitting letters to the editor, sending out mailers and much, much more.

We're on radio stations from Winona to Hibbing to Moorhead. Here's what people in Rep Paul Marquart's district are hearing when they turn on the radio:

Action 4 Liberty WILL NOT QUIT. Either these Democrats vote the way they did last year, or we will continue delivering the pain. It's that simple!

Our volunteer teams spent the weekend in Paul Marquart's district going door to door and passing out lit to thousands of voters. Everyone in Moorhead needs to know that Rep Paul Marquart just betrayed them. And we're going to do the heavy lifting until he votes the right way again.

But our tenacity and hard-nosed attitude makes a lot of enemies in the political class. Both Republican and Democrats alike want to stop us from being effective. They don't really feel the pain that all of us feel from Governor Walz' unilateral orders.

You have the ability to send a message to the political class that we mean business. While they're busy going to crony special interest groups and big corporations for money, we go directly to you. Help us continue fighting against them with a donation today.

SUPPORT OUR PRESSURE CAMPAIGN

And I mean it. We've been building resources for this fight and we know YOU will keep helping us out until we finally win and End Walz' Emergency Powers once and for all.

It's going to be incredibly painful for Ecklund, Lislegard, Marquart, Pelowski, Sandstede and Sundin if they want to put Governor Walz' powers ahead of the needs of their constituents. Rep Erik Mortensen will be right back at it again this Thursday, making a motion to vote on the End Walz' Emergency Powers Resolution.

Your financial support is exactly what allows us to get our radio ads up and running. It's what hires our staff members and volunteer coordinators. It pays for printing costs, our phone system and every other tool we use to apply the pressure. 

The political class would love nothing more than to see us without the resources that hold them accountable. Don't let them win!

You can send a message to the political class and con artists in St Paul. You can ensure that we are able to keep fighting. Please consider helping us print more pieces and buy more air time on radio and digitally with a donation.

Fund Our Field Operations Program:

>>>Contribute $25 - funds 500 flyers for distributions to voters

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In Liberty,

Jake Duesenberg

President, Action 4 Liberty

In an interview with Channel 6 News a week ago, Governor Walz told reporter Betsy Singer:

if we just have one person telling us what to do, we wouldn't have to have all these heartfelt disagreements. But I just hope we can reestablish this sense of decorum, and decency, and civility, that has always been a hallmark of America's democracy.

I think we so shocked that he said that, she did something the rest of the mainstream media won't do - allow the opposing viewpoint. Channel 6 was willing to allow our voice to be heard on tv. Here's our president, Jake Duesenberg, in an interview responding to what the Governor said:

Help End Walz' Emergency Powers for good. Support Action 4 Liberty today!

At one point, the legislature in good faith, decided to create a chapter of laws that address what happens to the Minnesota government under an emergency. In the case of an act of nature, a technological failure or malfunction, a terrorist incident, an industrial accident, a hazardous materials accident, or a civil disturbance that endangers life and property, the Minnesota legislature allowed the Governor to declare a peacetime emergency for five days. 

Consider the time period that Chapter 12 laws were created - pre-internet. It was created in a period of time where conducting business by the legislature, which has the sole constitutional authority to create laws, could not work on legislation remotely to address immediate needs. Nowadays, in the age of high speed internet, the legislature has proven that business can be conducted remotely. The Minnesota House is almost entirely doing business on Zoom as we speak. They're appropriating funds, creating laws and interfacing daily with government agencies. 

Even if the legislature couldn't address an emergency immediately, the creators of Chapter 12 law believed that five days was an adequate amount of time for Representatives and Senators to make it to Capitol grounds to take care of business. We're now going on 11 months of Governor Walz' declare emergency.

It's clear that no peacetime emergency justifies throwing out Minnesota's Constitutional Republic for unilateral, authoritarian rule by the Governor based on addressing a crisis in real time. Those who argue the opposite, truly do not desire the spirit of democracy. What we have right now in Minnesota is the antithesis of democracy. Removing the legislature from lawmaking powers essentially removes the electorate from their representation in Government. 

Some believe that Chapter 12 laws aren't problematic, it's the way that Governor Walz interpreted them that was the problem. He vaguely took language from the laws to create his own rules and determine how to penalize violators. Those self declared powers led to orders that shut down businesses, forcing many to close, and led to lockdowns that created a mental health crisis in the state. It's naive to believe that Walz will be the only one to use Chapter 12 in such an abusive way in the future. Governors in states like Michigan, New York and California have done similar measures. Power corrupts!

With these reasons, it's time to eliminate Chapter 12 laws from the books!

But politicians at the Capitol, on both sides of the aisle, are focused on tweaking the law instead of eliminating it. For instance, State Senator Warren Limmer has a bill that would "clarify" that the maximum penalty the Governor could assess on a violator of his rules is 90 days in jail. I guess it never occurred to him and co-authors Senators Johnson and Ingebrigtsen that allowing a Governor to throw violators of his order in jail should be outright banned. 

Even worse, Rep Gene Pelowski and Republicans like Rep Barb Haley are working together on a committee to draft a Fake End Walz' Powers bill that simply tweaks the law to allow the legislature to weigh in on specific executive orders, while allowing the remainder of the Governor's powers remain intact. They'll no doubt sell this as a solution - when we all know it's a facade.

Minnesota's Attorney General Keith Ellison appeared in front of the MN House State Government and Finance Committee to argue for a budget increase for the AG's office in the upcoming biennium. The Legislature, during odd numbered years, constructs a two-year budget that starts in July. Ellison believes that his office has a need for a roughly 8% increase in their operating budget. 

What would the budget go towards? Ellison stated in committee that his office has an increasing workload, which includes enforcement of the Governor's executive orders. He argued that the AG's office needs to retain it's staff, which according to him, has been in contact with over 900 businesses in the state regarding compliance of the Governor's executive orders and has sued 12 of them.

Rep Steve Drazkowski (R-Mazeppa) asked Ellison if he views the Governor's orders as law, which according to Minnesota's Constitution, is the sole responsibility of the legislative branch. Ellison responded that he indeed believes the Governor has the ability to unilaterally create laws in the state. How extreme of a statement is that for Minnesota's top legal officer!

Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka stated in December that Senate Republicans will look to cut the Attorney General's budget. We'll see if they follow through with that in the coming months.

Here's the video of Committee Hearing:

Things are moving incredibly fast in politics right now, so let me catch you up on where things stand right now...

Liberty champion Erik Mortensen was prepared and ready to make another motion on Monday to get a vote on the End Walz' Emergency Power Resolution. His objective this year is to stop Walz' unilateral reign and then make him pay for it.

Seeing that he was going to be upstaged by a freshman legislator, Minority Leader & RINO Kurt Daudt arranged a deal with the Democrat Speaker to be recognized first on the exact same motion. Of course, with Daudt, an agreement was made between Democrats and Republicans that there wasn't going to be a chance for success on the motion. Instead they have other ideas for Minnesota. More on that in a minute.

What was most telling about the vote is that Reps Marquart, Pelowski, Sandstede, Lislegard, Sundin and Ecklund are clearly a bunch of Con Artists who betrayed their voters. Last year, with an important election looming, they voted to remove Governor Walz' Emergency Powers when the chance of it passing was small. But now when their vote mattered, they reneged on their promise to their constituents.

Which means it's our job now to apply pain! That's all politicians respond to in the end. They care about one thing: getting re-elected. So we're making sure that voters in their district know about their betrayal. 

We now have radio ads up in Winona, Moorhead, Hibbing, Virginia, Moose Lake and Cloquet. Here's our ad on Con Artist Julie Sandstede:

We also have lit dropping teams heading up to several districts this weekend to spread the message of how politicians like Julie Sandstede are betraying them. 

Now, the betrayal doesn't stop with these six Democrat Con Artists. There's also a significant problem in the Republican ranks. Remember when we told you last week how this fight would go down? Let's recap...

First they will try to Kill the Resolution. The Democrats certainly did a good job blocking it the first week of the Legislature, but we got around that hurdle.

Secondly, they would avoid hearing it. Well, that didn't work either because we understood the rules of the House. So we got a vote on Ending Walz' Emergency Powers. 

When killing and avoiding doesn't work, Democrat, and even Republican leadership, will start watering down the Resolution. And that's precisely where they want this battle to go!

While we are busy getting clean votes on the End Walz' Emergency Powers Resolution and pressuring vulnerable Democrats to do the right thing, Daudt and Democrat leadership are behind closed doors, crafting a Fake End Walz' Power bill. In fact, they even assembled a special committee with Con Artist Gene Pelowski and RINO Kurt Daudt as the leads. 

SEE WHO IS ON THE FAKE END WALZ' POWERS COMMITTEE

The committee is tasked to create a bill, some time in the next couple weeks, to reconfigure Chapter 12 Emergency Powers law. In other words, they are seeking to make Walz' powers permanent.

Here's how you know it's a Fake Bill. Unlike the End Walz' Emergency Powers Resolution, a bill actually requires the Governor's signature. How good could this bill be if Governor Walz is willing to sign it? Either they'll pass something so pathetic, and irrelevant, or they will waste a month of our time with the false hope that Walz' Powers will be killed, only to watch him veto it in the end.

That's why we MUST oppose the Fake End Walz' Powers bill.

Rep Marion O'Neill

phone: 651-296-5063

email: [email protected]

And what about aspiring gubernatorial candidate Rep Barb Haley of Red Wing? Why is she working against us to craft such a piece of garbage?!

Rep Barb Haley

phone: 651-296-8635

email: [email protected]

I'd recommend telling them to STOP supporting the Fake End Walz' Power bill on the Subcommittee on Legislative Reform. No good bill that actually Ends Walz' Emergency Powers will get his signature. Stop wasting time and focus on forcing a vote on Mortensen's End Walz' Emergency Powers Resolution.

To sum things up. We learned this week that Reps Marquart, Pelowski, Sandstede, Lislegard, Sundin & Ecklund are a bunch of Con Artists who betrayed their voters on Ending Walz' Emergency Powers. It's our job at Action 4 Liberty to bring the pain, which is why we are executing a large pressure campaign in their districts. As pointed out last week, when they can't kill the Resolution or avoid hearing it, they will water it down with a Fake End Walz' Powers bill. Unfortunately, Republicans like Marion O'Neill and Barb Haley are betraying their voters by participating in the crafting of the fake bill.

Let's keep the pressure on these legislators. We've been building resources for this fight and we know YOU will keep helping us out until we finally win and End Walz' Emergency Powers once and for all.

The list of radical, extreme measures taking by Governor Walz against our beloved small businesses continues to grow. This week we're learning that his majesty is trying to confiscate earnings by the struggling small businesses who opened up in defiance of his unilateral, illegal orders. Most of them, opened up to try to make ends meet.

Using the Attorney General's office, Walz is attempting to get these small business owners to sign a document that would require them to pay the state "total gross revenue it received for indoor on-premise consumption of food and beverages" while the Governor unilaterally declared them to be closed. The document, if signed, would then compel the business owners, by signature, to submit to all future orders by the Governor.