April 17, 2020
News Release
LOCAL LEGISLATORS APPLAUD TRUMP PLAN TO REOPEN ECONOMY
ST. PAUL – President Trump yesterday unveiled his plan to get the United States back to work safely, using a phased approach to reopen businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. He released guidelines under which governors of each state can reopen businesses in three phases.
“I support the President’s plan to get Minnesotans back to work, safely,” said Representative Dan Fabian, R-Roseau. “Our small businesses are really hurting, and we hear every day from constituents whose livelihoods are being crushed and local governments who are watching Main Street businesses be decimated. If we continue like we have been, there won’t be any businesses to open up when the time comes.”
The first phase, according to President Trump, would not begin until states have 14 consecutive days of decreases in coronavirus cases and have testing and hospital capacity to deal with potential spikes in cases.
“As we reopen businesses, we need to remember our local critical access hospitals and dental clinics that count on elective surgeries and procedures to continue operations,” said Representative Deb Kiel, R-Crookston. “As we continue to weather this crisis, we cannot be without our healthcare here in rural Minnesota. In addition to our small businesses, our medical and dental providers are critical to our lives here in Greater Minnesota, and we need to do what we can to keep them afloat so they’re still here.”
“President Trump’s new guidelines to open our economy are exactly what we need right now. These guidelines allow states to open on a statewide or county-by-county basis, which allows states to take into account the risk profiles, equipment and staffing of medical facilities, and the economic needs,” Sen. Mark Johnson, R-East Grand Forks, said in regard to the White House’s plan to reopen America. “One size does not fit all in Minnesota and President Trump’s plan considers the unique needs of differing communities. I applaud him for creating a framework that will work for our communities.”
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