Monroe Review

Michigan state Rep. Jason Sheppard (R-Temperance) says it's time Gov. Gretchen Whitmer eased shutdown orders because of the COVID-19 virus, calling her handling of the situation “never-ending unilateral power.”

“People expect and deserve the branches of their state government to work together,” the District 56 representative said on the Michigan House Republicans website. “It’s more important now than ever before.”

Whitmer initially declared a state of emergency on Mar. 10 because of the coronavirus and extended the order through April, then May 28, then June 19. Republican lawmakers who dominate the Legislature had advanced a bill that would not have extended the order, but Whitmer issued an executive order to keep it going. Republicans filed a lawsuit against the governor in response.

Sheppard said Whitmer has made too many mistakes with her handling of the crisis, which is damaging the state's economy.

Sheppard told Michigan House Republicans, “People deserve answers. It’s time for the governor and her administration to start sharing information with legislators and the public. It’s time for her to work with us to fix these problems and get our state back on track.”

Sheppard added that to ensure measures remain in place to protect public health and help families whose income has been damaged by the economic impact of the virus, the Legislature took action to put some of the governor’s previous orders into state law with specific expiration dates.

“There is absolutely no reason the governor can’t partner with the Legislature to make sure the right protocols are in place to protect residents and workers now that the governor’s state of emergency declaration is coming to an end,” Sheppard said. “The House and Senate have listened closely to residents, and we’re taking steps that will allow us to continue many of the measures put in place during the state of emergency -- like additional protections for health care workers, expanded unemployment eligibility and preventing price gouging -- while ending any restrictions that are no longer necessary.”

Sheppard also sponsored a bill lowering penalties for violating an order to $100 for an individual and $500 for a business. The Whitmer administration had previously set fines for individuals as high as $1,000.