Sturgis-Coldwater News

In response to the ever-growing emergency posed by COVID-19, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has requested a 70-day extension of the state's current emergency declaration, which orders Michiganders to "Stay Home, Stay Safe."

Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey (R-Clarklake) said he is uncomfortable with the length of that proposed extension.

"We agree that emergency circumstances persist in our state and are prepared to support an extension of the governor’s emergency declaration but feel a 70-day extension is too long," Shirkey said, according to MiSenateGOP.

Shirkey said he supports extending the emergency declaration, but he does not support a lengthy extension because pandemic factors are rapidly changing every day.

"The conditions we are experiencing today will likely be different than those we encounter next week, next month or in 70 days," Shirkey told MiSenateGOP.

Helping protect the community and supporting hospital workers across the state are top priorities, according to Shirkey, who said he and other senators will approach the governor with "a reasonable extension of the emergency declaration."

Another top priority for lawmakers is education, and now that schools across the state are closed for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year due to COVID-19, Shirkey sees Executive Order 2020-35 as a necessary step to continue educating students in Michigan.  

"The Senate Republican Caucus worked closely with the governor’s team to provide input on a plan for student learning across all education settings," Shirkey said, according to MiSenateGOP.

Shirkey praised teachers for using innovative tools to continue educating their students.

"Teachers and staff have done a tremendous job providing continuous learning to students over the past couple weeks, and we know that effort can continue," Shirkey said, adding that it's important for everyone to come together and make sure the rest of the school years runs as smoothly as possible.

"Teachers and families partnering together will provide Michigan students with distance learning opportunities for the balance of the school year," Shirkey said in his statement to MiSenateGOP.