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At least one state senator says that Gov. Gretchen Whitmer must abandon her harmful disregard for the lives of citizens, job creators and small business owners, according to MiSenateGOP.

Sen. Dan Lauwers (R-Brockway Township) released a statement after Whitmer extended the lockdown of Michigan restaurants to January 15. Restaurants are currently open only for takeout, delivery and outdoor dining.

“Yet again, the governor has shown disdain for small business owners in the state by extending her devastating shutdown of restaurants," Lauwers said, according to MiSenateGOP. “While she acknowledges that the spread of the virus is trending in the right direction in the state because Michiganders are taking responsibility and doing the right thing — wearing masks, social distancing, taking the proper sanitation measures — she, at the same time, shows contempt for job providers trying to make ends meet by extending the shutdown. The governor does not trust Michiganders to act responsibly. Though the data does not indicate that restaurants are prominent sources of virus spread, the governor — inexplicably — has shut down restaurants again."

Sen. Dan Lauwers | #MiSenateGOP

Lauwers charges that Whitmer has kept business owners in the dark regarding the lockdown status.

“She is unable or unwilling to tell small businesses what level of infection or hospitalization rate Michigan must achieve for them to reopen safely," Lauwers told MiSenateGOP. "Instead, workers, business owners and job providers are left waiting for press conferences, only then to simply be told they need to remain shuttered."

Lauwers said that thousands of layoffs have been the result of the constant restrictions on eateries.

“Indoor dining at restaurants has been banned for more than 100 days throughout this year and counting," Lauwers said, according to MiSenateGOP. "This has resulted in the loss of billions of dollars in sales and the laying off of most of the state’s restaurant workforce.

Lauwers says that a low percentage of the coronavirus outbreaks were due to restaurants and bars, citing data from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

“The health department’s own data indicates that, of the COVID-19 outbreaks that have occurred, only 4.3% can be attributed to restaurants," Lauwers told MiSenateGOP. "Neighboring states such as Indiana and Ohio understand this and have kept indoor dining open. Open restaurants in bordering states further ravage the industry here in Michigan."

Lauwers adds that lawmakers have had enough and want the governor to discontinue the lockdowns.

“Enough is enough," Lauwers said, according to MiSenateGOP. "The governor must discontinue her shameful disregard for the lives of job providers and small business owners in the state and work with the Legislature to enact sensible policies in response to this pandemic. Today I call on the governor or Health and Human Services Director Robert Gordon to provide Michiganders with objective standards and/or COVID-19 case rates for restaurant owners to be able to take action and make plans in order to reopen.”