St. Cloud Sun

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz enacted a stay-at-home order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and with it he set up a hotline for individuals to report when they see large groups gathering, but some lawmakers disagree with the decision to have a hotline. 

Minnesota residents are allowed to leave their homes for essential activities, but aren't allowed to gather in large groups. State emergency workers have said the hotline is bringing in hundreds of calls, according to the Duluth News Tribune. 

But some Minnesota lawmakers are asking the governor to take down the hotline. They have said educating Minnesota residents on why social distancing and not gathering in large groups is more important than reporting each other for violating the stay-at-home order. 

"We can all show a bit of kindness to our neighbors as we manage our times and needs differently in the stay at home efforts," Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka (R-East Gull Lake) said on Twitter. 

Walz said he will not be removing the hotline, because it's critical to keep people safe and keep the 911 system open for real emergencies. 

“We’re not gonna take down a telephone number that allows people just to try and keep their neighbors safe," Walz said in a statement. He separately said, "That 911 system has to be reserved for other emergencies."

On March 31, the Minnesota Senate Republicans attempted to call the governor to request the hotline be taken down, but Walz rejected their call. 

Walz said in a statement that the hotline “allows people just to try and keep their neighbors safe and serves an educational function if people see someone who isn’t informed about the stay-at-home order.”

But Sen. Jeff Howe (R-Rockville) said he disagrees with Walz on how effective the hotline is being, arguing that it does more harm than good. 

“I vehemently disagree with Gov. Walz on the effectiveness of this hotline. Rather than serve as a resource, this hotline will only spread fear and mistrust among neighbors and communities. We are not a communist country, and we have constitutional rights here in the United States of America," Howe said in a statement. "Rather than cause neighbors to spy on neighbors, we should trust Minnesotans to use their common sense. If a neighbor is not following the social distancing, talk to that neighbor, have a discussion."

There are no penalties to breaking the stay-at-home order, bur law enforcement is educating anyone reported on the hotline about social distancing. 

"In a time when our communities should be coming together, this will drive them apart," Howe said in his statement. "I hope that Gov. Walz will abolish this hotline and put the resources to better causes like supporting Minnesotans who are struggling to receive and find benefits while coping with the COVID-19 epidemic.”