The Republican Party of Virginia has a message for Gov. Ralph Northam: Reopen the economy now.
In a Thursday morning statement, RVP Chairman Jack Wilson said Virginians can’t bounce back from the coronavirus pandemic unless the state’s Democratic governor takes action to reopen businesses immediately rather than on June 1, when Virginia’s stay-at-home order is set to end.
“We cannot begin the recovery process until our leaders give us that ability,” he wrote. “That is why I urge the Governor to develop and announce an actual plan to reopen Virginia as quickly and as safely as possible. Northam has spoken in platitudes about the sacrifices in Virginia, but the reality for thousands of small businesses and their employees is stress and desperation. They need to see that the Governor has an actual plan to get them back to providing for their families.”
Wilson noted that rural counties in Virginia have been far less affected by the disease and suggested that Northam create a plan for individual counties to reopen while still maintaining safe practices to ensure the disease does not spread.
“Virginia is one of the most diverse places in the Nation and should be treated as such,” he said. “Abingdon has different needs than Arlington, Fairfax County and Franklin County have access to different resources, and Dublin and Paris know what works for one may not work for the other. Blanket policies do not work for Virginia.”
On Thursday, more than 5 million U.S. citizens filed for unemployment, bringing the three-week total to a staggering 22 million people across the country who have lost jobs due to shelter-in-place orders and the shuttering of nonessential businesses.
The Republican Party statement was released one day after thousands of Michiganders poured into the streets of Lansing to protest aggressive coronavirus measures taken by Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
“We cannot expect for life to go back to normal after so many jobs have been lost and so many families have struggled to put food on their tables,” continued Wilson. “Governor Northam, Virginians need hope; now is your chance to give them that hope. Begin the process of reopening Virginia now.”
