GOP says Andy Beshear Leaving Kentucky Behind the Curve on Coronavirus Recovery Plan

Andy Beshear Leaving Kentucky Behind the Curve on Coronavirus Recovery Plan

Frankfort, KY – Gov. Andy Beshear is leaving Kentucky behind the curve on coronavirus recovery planning. While neighboring states like Ohio, Tennessee and others around the country, including some of those hardest hit by the pandemic, work to plan for recovery from the devastating effects of the coronavirus, Beshear has been dismissive of such efforts.

“While Kentuckians are working hard to pull together and flatten the curve, Andy Beshear is leaving us behind the curve when it comes to recovery,” Republican Party of Kentucky spokesman Mike Lonergan said. “Leaders across the country of both political parties are working to prepare for recovery even as the virus begins to peak in various hotspots. Kentuckians are sacrificing so much to help fight the virus. They deserve not to be left behind by Andy Beshear’s refusal to act.”

To date, Beshear has yet to announce any concrete planning for recovery efforts. And at a recent press conference, Gov. Beshear was dismissive of beginning to plan coronavirus recovery efforts. Meanwhile, many governors of other states – of both parties – are already beginning work on coronavirus recovery plans. States like Ohio, New York and others, all hard hit by the coronavirus, have begun planning efforts. Neighboring Tennessee announced a recovery group just yesterday.

Some of these, like New York, New Jersey and others, or on the West Coast, are even multistate partnerships. Some of these states, like New York and New Jersey, are even among those most heavily impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

Background

“Beshear addressed the need for an ‘exit strategy’ in his address yesterday, and loosening novel coronavirus restrictions, but tamped down that need, saying discussing an exit strategy could give citizens the wrong signals about the current state of the fight against the disease.” (Cincinnati Enquirer, Coronavirus: Gov. Andy Beshear reports no new Northern Kentucky deaths Sunday, by Jennie Key and Bobby Nightengale, 4/12/2020)

“Governor DeWine announced the creation of his Economic Advisory Board that will help his administration work through the economic issues facing Ohio as the state looks toward the future.” (Ohio Office of the Governor Press Release, Ohio Stay at Home Order Extended through May 1, 4/2/2020)

“Recognizing that their states have one integrated regional economy, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf, New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont, Delaware Governor John Carney and Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo today announced the creation of a multi-state council to restore the economy and get people back to work.” (Pennsylvania Office of the Governor Press Release, Governor Wolf, Governor Cuomo, Governor Murphy, Governor Lamont, Governor Carney, Governor Raimondo Announce Multi-State Council to Get People Back to Work and Restore the Economy, 4/13/2020)

“[Tennessee Governor Bill] Lee said he’s forming an economic recovery group to get a “phased reboot” of the economy off the ground beginning in May.” (WJHL News, TN Gov. Bill Lee extends ‘stay-at-home’ order through April 30, plans to reopen economy in May, by Jessica Fuller, 4/13/2020)

“The governors of Washington, California and Oregon on Monday announced they were working on a joint plan for reopening their states’ respective economies once it is safe to lift coronavirus-related restrictions.” (The Hill, West Coast governors announce they will create joint plan for reopening economies, by Zack Budryk, 4/13/2020)

“The Northeast has been hit particularly hard with the largest outbreak concentrated in New York where there are more coronavirus cases than any other country outside the U.S. There are more than 558,000 cases in the U.S. as of Monday afternoon with more than 300,000 of them concentrated between the six Northeastern states.” (CNBC, New York, New Jersey and other Northeastern states form coronavirus working group to decide when to ease restrictions, by Kevin Breuninger, William Feuer, and Noah Higgins-Dunn, 4/13/2020)

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Mike Lonergan

Communications Director

Republican Party of Kentucky

(614) 506-3242 (Cell)

mikel.rpk@gmail.com