Sturgis-Coldwater News

Michigan senators have been showing their opposition to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's extension of the orders that impose heavy restrictions on restaurants and bars, according to MiSenateGOP.

Sen. Kim LaSata (R-Bainbridge Township) released a statement after Whitmer declared an extension of her administration’s “Pause to Save Lives” lockdown of Michigan restaurants. Currently Michigan restaurants can only operate through delivery, takeout and outdoor dining.

“I am greatly disappointed Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and her administration extended the shutdown of restaurants’ indoor dining, and my heart goes out to the owners and workers who will spend the holiday season without work,” said LaSata, according to MiSenateGOP. “The industry has been decimated by the orders, resulting in billions of dollars in lost revenue, the laying off of most of its workforce and thousands of restaurants going out of business. Today’s shutdown extension will only further the loss of jobs and businesses.”

Sen. Kim LaSata | #MiSenateGOP

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) revised the order, allowing in-person education at high schools to reopen.

“As a parent and former teacher, I can’t overstate how important it is that all our students return to in-classroom learning as soon as possible,” LaSata told MiSenateGOP. “The governor is reopening high schools just in time for Christmas break, and after too many students have fallen through the cracks.

LaSata ended the press release by demanding that Whitmer honor all of the promises she has made in the past. Previously, Whitmer signed a bill that would put decisions back into the hands of the local school districts.

“Just this week, the state superintendent confirmed that statewide school enrollment is down by over 53,000 students and that at least 13,000 have completely fallen off the radar — they’ve entirely disengaged from school and are unaccounted for," LaSata said, according to MiSenateGOP. "Going forward, the governor needs to honor the commitment she made when she signed legislation that allows individual school districts to decide if, and when, they reopen in-person learning.”