North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper is being encouraged by state lawmakers to hasten the reopening of the state's economy earlier this year. | Facebook
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper is being encouraged by state lawmakers to hasten the reopening of the state's economy earlier this year. | Facebook
North Carolina Republican legislators are pushing Gov. Roy Cooper to hasten the state's reopening.
The House voted to overturn Cooper's order that continues to keep bowling alleys and skating rinks closed during COVID-19, and instead allowing those businesses to operate at 50% capacity while adhering to social distancing and sanitization protocols, Chapelboro.com reported on June 17.
Clearing the Senate Judiciary Committee was a resolution that provides limited immunity to any business, nonprofit or government agency that lets customers know it is taking reasonable steps to prevent the spread of the virus, Chapelboro.com reported.
“We should treat all businesses the same and we shouldn’t pick winners and losers,” bill sponsor Rep. John Szoka (R-Cumberland) said, Chapelboro.com reported. “Our small entrepreneurs are good companies too, and they’re equally capable of handing COVID-19 safety precautions.”
Cooper said reopening through legislation puts him and other health officials in a tough spot should cases surge and businesses need to close again, Chapelboro.com reported. The proposed bill does provide the governor a fail-safe to re-close businesses with approval of the Council of State.
Democrats have said now is the wrong time to reopen considering the rising number in cases.
“No one in this chamber wants to see our economy wrecked,” Rep. Amos Quick (D-Guilford) said, Chapelboro.com reported. "... [but] we have to stop the spread of this virus, and opening more and more is not stopping the spread.
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