Minnesota State Wire

The Minnesota Senate Republican Caucus hailed the accomplishments of the recent session, particularly in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka (R-East Gull Lake) said that the state Senate managed accomplishments such as providing tax relief with the projected surplus and reforming the Department of Human Services, according to a Republican caucus news release.

“We got there by working together and by focusing our priorities to what must be done to stop the spread of COVID-19, what we needed to do to revive the economy, and not taking up items that would exasperate the state’s projected deficit,” Gazelka said.

The Senate approved nearly over $600 million in spending into response to COVID-19, covering things from testing and health care related to COVID-19 for the uninsured to unemployment benefits for frontline workers who became ill from the virus.

Yet, the Senate also accomplished regular business, such as addressing transparency in prescription drug costs.

Still, Gazelka said there is much more to accomplish, and called on Gov. Tim Walz and the Democratic caucus to work with Republicans for the good of the state.