(WWJ) Michigan's Senate Majority Leader says Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's use of the phrase "It's better to be six feet apart right now than six feet under," is "fear mongering" and it hurts his heart to hear it.
Speaking live on WWJ Newsradio 950 on Friday, Mike Shirkey (R-Clarklake) said: "I'm so sad that has to be the rhetoric that we talk about instead of giving people some hope and a clear direction that we're gonna walk down this pathway and here are the steps, join me in this process, versus just telling people what they can and cannot do."
Shirkey said some businesses should be open right now, and there is no reason that we can't slowly start opening businesses that can operate as safely at work and as at home.
"There's nobody calling for us to just lift the lid off and let things go back to quote unquote normal," Shirkey said.
He added that he fully expects to fully maintain the executive orders to restrict social gatherings and maintain social distancing. "And then still encourage people when they leave work to get your butt back home, because there is still a need to continue to avoid accelerating the spread."
Shirkey's comments on WWJ come as Republican state lawmakers are proposing stripping Whitmer of some of her powers during the outbreak,
The bills they're proposing would repeal a 19-45 Emergency Powers Act that gives the governor latitude during a declared state of emergency to take actions in times of "great public crisis," while also change a 19-76 act reducing a governor's state of emergency orders from 28 days to 14 days.
On Thursday, GOP Senators came out with their own five-phase plan to reopen businesses in the state. As part of the "Open Michigan Safely" proposal, Michigan would not allow people to attend concerts, festivals or sporting events until there's been no active spread of the coronavirus or a vaccine is available for 30 days.
Whitmer, meanwhile, said she does hope to lift some restrictions when her "Stay Home, Stay Safe" order expires on May 1.
