House Republicans unveil roadmap to restart economy, return to normalcy

State Rep. Matt Hall, R-Marshall, today said he supports a regional, safety-focused approach to restarting Michigan’s economy and re-establishing a semblance of normalcy in the COVID-19 era.

House Republicans today unveiled a blueprint to help move the state toward a rolling restart — an approach based on the prevalence and risk factors of the virus, which varies by region. A task force would be established to determine which counties could have some COVID-19 restrictions eased more quickly, getting more people back to work and more facets of everyday life – when it’s safe.

“Over the past few weeks I have heard from thousands of residents across Kalamazoo and Calhoun counties who are either worried about their health and safety or are currently coping with the challenges of unemployment,” Hall said. “The COVID-19 outbreak in Michigan has not only tragically claimed lives, it has also shattered livelihoods. That’s why simultaneously protecting public health and people’s livelihoods is integral as we continue forward in this public health crisis.

“Despite certain components of the governor’s stay-home order that are overly burdensome on local families and job providers, I appreciate the governor’s efforts to keep Michigan families safe while lessening the spread of coronavirus. As the curve flattens and the number of cases decline, Michigan will need to begin a transition back to normalcy in a manner that respects the shared mission to protect public health. I, along with my House colleagues, want to be a partner in helping the governor and her administration to do what is best for Michigan. That means taking a regional approach – one that looks at counties in tiers of COVID-19 risk and prevalence, and enacts smart, data-driven changes accordingly.”

A task force – including representatives from Gov. Whitmer’s administration, the Legislature and outside groups – would place counties into one of three tiers based on coronavirus activity and other factors such as hospitalization rates and capacity. Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties – which have the vast majority of COVID-19 cases in the state – would be in the tier with strictest restrictions. Other counties would be placed in tiers with fewer restrictions.

The same task force would help determine which jobs and activities could be resumed safely, starting from the premise of federal CISA guidelines which in some cases are not as restrictive as the prohibitions now in place in Michigan. The task force would make frequent recommendations to the governor to reflect changes in coronavirus activity.

“This is a balanced, common-sense approach that prioritizes public health by getting Michigan residents back to work timely, sensibly and safely,” Hall said. “The best way forward for Calhoun and Kalamazoo families is not through partisanship. That is why this roadmap specifically involves collaboration between the Legislature, the governor’s administration, health leaders and economy experts to reopen Michigan through a safety-based, regional approach. The people of Michigan are looking for answers on next steps to normalcy, and this plan is a great first step to providing those answers.”

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