Governors across the country should reopen their states now, according to Julie Kelly.
“Continuing to pretend that they can hide from this virus is outrageous,” she told the Lone Star Standard.
Kelly, a political commentator and senior contributor at American Greatness, has been closely tracking the Covid-19 pandemic response since March. She has been outspoken in her advocacy against the shutdowns.
Gov. Greg Abbott
“We did absolutely everything wrong and for the Republican governors to not recognize this now and fix it is unbelievable,” Kelly said.
In Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott has faced criticism from Texas GOP leadership at all levels.
Bars, night clubs and other businesses remain closed while restaurants are limited to 50 percent capacity.
Abbott previously allowed for the re-opening of some of those business before shutting them down again.
“The capriciousness of this decision is alarming,” Kelly said. “You can’t go on a whim and shut down a small business. That is devastating not only to the business owners but to the people who work where. And it backs up this hysteria around Covid that is completely unjustified.”
In Texas, local businesses have been losing patience with Abbott and are advocating for the wide re-opening of all communities.
The long-term effects of the shutdowns are not yet known, but Kelly said one thing is known…the longer lockdowns persist, the more people suffer and the more pronounced long-term issues will be once fully realized.
“The consequences are going to to be fierce,” Kelly said. “It is going to be some time before we can understand the costly economic, educational, social and cultural consequences of these decisions."
The Texas Bar and Nightclub Alliance has requested fair treatment for their members from Abbott. Many bars are considering circumventing bureaucratic regulations by reclassifying themselves as “restaurants.”
Meanwhile local GOP political leaders and major donors are revolting.
“I am glad business owners and local political leaders and donors are standing up and fighting back,” Kelly said.
The efforts appear to be paying off. Abbott recently announced an as of yet undefined plan to reopen the state.
In contrast, Kelly praises the way governors like Florida’s Ron DeSantis and South Dakota’s Kristi Noem handled the pandemic and offers those states as examples of how governors across the board should move forward.
“(DeSantis) did submit to the lockdown at first, but he did what was right. He made sure the most vulnerable were protected,” Kelly said.
Last week DeSantis said Florida will never see a lockdown again.
Noem never shut down South Dakota.
