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Rep. Cole: Revised stay-at-home order is good start, more action needed
RELEASE|April 24, 2020

State Rep. Triston Cole today said the governor moved in the right direction by easing a handful of the restrictions imposed by her stay-at-home order – but she must do more to relieve people of the crushing financial stress her orders have created.


Cole, of Mancelona, said Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is finally heeding the recommendations of Michigan House legislators who have implored her to loosen restrictions so small businesses can offer curbside sales or delivery and residents can participate in safe recreational opportunities, like golf and motorized boating. He also recognized her decision to allow lawn care businesses, landscapers and nurseries to operate if they can do so safely – something he has been calling for since the first stay-at-home order was issued in March.


“Imposing these restrictions on Michigan residents and job providers never made sense, so lifting them was a good place for the governor to start – but it’s not enough,” Cole said. “More than 1 million Michiganders have lost their jobs since the stay-at-home orders were first put in place. While I share in the governor’s mission to keep people safe, I also have a responsibility to fight for the hundreds of struggling residents who have reached out to me because they are worried about putting food on the tables and paying their bills. There are additional occupations the governor has yet to acknowledge, like construction and real-estate, that can be done safely while adhering to social distancing protocols.


“People also deserve more clarification on how her revised order affects jobs that support the services and industries being allowed to reopen. For example, will workers be allowed to get boats out of dry storage so the owners can use them? That’s still unclear.”


Cole renewed his call for the governor to work with the Legislature to establish a regional, safety-focused plan to restart Michigan’s economy.


“The governor continues to take a one-size-fits-all approach, even though we all know the overwhelming majority of COVID-19 cases are in Detroit and the four counties surrounding the city,” Cole said. “Obviously, we need to continue taking strict precautions in southeast Michigan – but it’s time to begin easing more restrictions in areas of the state that haven’t seen high concentrations. We can and should do this while keeping a close eye on the data so the health and safety of northern Michigan families is not compromised.”


Cole also joined his colleagues today in creating a bipartisan oversight committee to review new and existing executive orders issued by the governor during the coronavirus outbreak and help address any issues that arise due to their implementation.


The Joint Select Committee on the COVID-19 Pandemic will include five legislators each from the House and the Senate. Its existence will better protect people and maintain key foundations of state government – checks and balances, involvement of the Legislature and its role as a conduit to the people it represents.

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