March 27, 2020

Governor Tim Walz

130 State Capitol
75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55155

Dear Governor Walz:

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, you issued Executive Order 20-09 postponing
elective surgeries and procedures statewide. According to the Department of Health,
elective abortions continue to take place, even as we hear from constituents about
critical surgeries and medical treatments being postponed or canceled.

Most abortions clearly fall under the category of “elective” or “non-essential” as those
terms are described in the executive order. We ask that you make clear that the order
applies to them. The postponement of elective procedures is crucial both to minimize
transmission of the coronavirus and to free up scarce medical resources like personal
protective equipment.

For the safety and health of the public during this time of ongoing crisis, we ask that you
ensure that the governor’s policy applies to the practice of abortion no less than to
other elective procedures.

Sincerely,

Minority Leader Kurt Daudt Deputy Minority Leader Anne Neu

cc: Commissioner Jan Malcolm, Department of Health

Representative Tony Albright Representative Paul Anderson

Representative Jeff Backer Representative Dave Baker

Representative Peggy Bennett Representative Greg Boe

Representative Brian Daniels Representative Greg Davids

Representative Lisa Demuth Representative Bob Dettmer

Representative Sondra Erickson Representative Dan Fabian

Representative Mary Franson Representative Pat Garofalo

Representative Steve Green Representative Matt Grossell

Representative Glenn Gruenhagen Representative Bob Gunther

Representative Barb Haley Representative Rod Hamilton

Representative John Heinrich Representative Josh Heintzeman

Representative Jerry Hertaus Representative Brian Johnson

Representative Tony Jurgens Representative Deb Kiel

Representative Jon Koznick Representative Ron Kresha

Representative Sandy Layman Representative Eric Lucero

Representative Dale Lueck Representative Joe McDonald

Representative Shane Mekeland Representative Jim Nash

Representative Nathan Nelson Representative Bud Nornes

Representative Paul Novotny Representative Tim O’Driscoll

Representative Marion O’Neill Representative John Petersburg

Representative Nels Pierson Representative John Poston

Representative Duane Quam Representative Kristin Robbins

Representative Linda Runbeck Representative Joe Schomacker

Representative Peggy Scott Representative Chris Swedzinski

Representative Tama Theis Representative Paul Torkelson

Representative Dean Urdahl Representative Bob Vogel