Hospitality industry needs more than kind words to recover Many restaurants and hotels are currently carrying a debt load that will take time to pay down. The state must help.
By Liz Rammer Text size Copy shortlink:
The recent budget agreement account by Gov. Tim Walz, Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka and House Speaker Melissa Hortman has a glaring omission: hospitality.
The leaders addressed a wide range of issues but were silent on Minnesota s devastated hospitality industry and how the state will follow up on its declarations to aid recovery for these businesses.
Over the last year, hospitality businesses have been forced to close and/or limit capacity. In Minnesota, the industry lost a projected $11 billion in sales while operators bills continued unabated for rent, mortgage, insurance, utilities, vendors and even taxes. A mountain of debt piled up.
Walz sticking with new auto emissions rules
Governor defends his Clean Cars Minnesota tailpipe emissions rule for 2025 vehicles. Senate Republicans are pressing him to postpone it until 2027 Author: John Croman Updated: 1:15 AM CDT May 22, 2021
ST PAUL, Minn. Republican state lawmakers say they re serious about cutting off funding to the DNR later this summer, and in the process closing state parks, if Gov. Tim Walz doesn t postpone his Clean Cars emissions standards.
It s one of the unresolved issues hanging over State Capitol headed into a June special session, where legislators must pass a two-year, balanced state budget in order to avoid a state shutdown.