Rep. Bronna Kahle of Adrian today joined the Michigan House in approving measures she hopes will prompt Gov. Whitmer to work with the Legislature in response to COVID-19.

Kahle said she and other members of the Legislature have heard countless concerns about many of the governor’s unilateral decisions in the past month – all made without input from the Legislature, the elected representatives of the people.

“Lenawee families are suffering,” Kahle said. “People all across our great state are scared, frustrated and hurting. I am listening to you. People are worried about their health and what the future holds. It breaks my heart to see the governor of our state acting like this is a political issue. This is not a political problem — this is about families, seniors, workers, and small businesses. This is about the health of people and the health of our state.

“I continue to remain hopeful. I have the greatest respect for the pressure the governor is under. I would like to believe we share the same goals of prioritizing public health, while also working to safely reopen Michigan as soon as possible. I will continue working and urging her to put politics aside, put the people first, and work together with the Legislature.”

The House votes would end the governor’s unilateral control and ensure the people of Michigan, represented by the Legislature, have a seat at the table when future decisions are made about the state’s response to COVID-19.

To ensure measures remain in place to protect public health and help families who have been hurt by the economic impact of the virus, the House plan would put some of the governor’s previous orders into state law with specific expiration dates. This includes preventing employers from taking disciplinary action against any employee who elects to stay home from work because of COVID-19, expanded unemployment benefits and eligibility requirements, measures to prevent price gouging, and many others.
Restrictions on public gatherings would remain in place, but the state of emergency would expire.

“My heart breaks for the families who have lost loved ones to COVID19,” Kahle said. “I’m worried for the more than 1 million Michigan residents who have lost their jobs. I’m worried for the small business owners in places like Clinton, Hudson, Manitou Beach or Morenci who don’t know if their life’s work will survive this crisis.

“People are being told they can’t work to take care of their loved ones, even when they see a wide range of activities from real estate to car washes being done safely in almost every other state. People are worried about their health and what the future holds. So many across our county have reached out to me over the past month for the first time — noting they have never reached out to an elected official in their life. They don’t care about Republicans or Democrats. They don’t care about resolutions and legislation. They care about their families, their children and their parents. Their livelihoods and communities. These are the voices that need to be heard – and today, I offered my hand in partnership to the governor so they would be heard. People expect the branches of their state government to work together at all times — especially during emergencies.”

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