SACRAMENTO: The California Assembly Republican Caucus issued the following statement shortly after members were sworn in for the 2021-22 Legislative Session about Gov. Gavin Newsom's inconsistent COVID strategy:
"Assembly Republicans are greatly concerned about the gross inconsistencies and inequities in Governor Gavin Newsom's new regional Stay at Home order. We want to safely navigate this pandemic and we recognize its seriousness. We also recognize the potential danger of a shortness of hospital beds and understand the need to preserve ICU capacity. The way to respond to this crisis is to encourage and inspire Californians to socially distance, practice good hygiene, stay home if you are sick and wear a mask when you are in public and cannot distance. That is what the science tells us will help reduce spread of the virus.
"It is not with another massive and arbitrary shutdown of our businesses and schools.
"These shutdown decisions have been inconsistent and arbitrary, creating extreme classes of winners and losers. We share the anger and bewilderment of our constituents who are trying to navigate the latest haphazard, confusing and, in many ways, destructive rules coming from the Governor. Even local public safety agencies, charged with enforcing these rules, are rejecting them. We hear the parents in our districts who see the stress and trauma their children are enduring with ever-changing school schedules and protocols. We hear the small business owners and restaurateurs who are angry that they have to all but shut down while big box stores continue to operate. We hear our communities, which are upset at being lumped in geographic regions far too large for any semblance of local control or decision making. We hear our constituents, and we are angry too.
"When the Governor’s inconsistency is combined with hypocrisy, what you get is a complete lack of trust. When you add incompetency to the mix, what we have is a monumental failure of leadership; the failure of the Employment Development Department to provide for those his decisions have left unemployed is perhaps the greatest example, but we also see that failure in a Health Corps that is not providing much needed emergency healthcare staffing during this crisis despite months to prepare. And now we find that unemployment was paid to murderers and rapists on death row; it is the ultimate slap in the face.
"Assembly Republicans are here to serve our constituents and are willing to work on balancing the many needs of society during this crisis. The state must provide a measured, consistent response that treats people fairly, protects our most vulnerable populations, uses scientific data and takes into account the economic consequences of government action. Governor Newsom has made far too many decisions without the people’s input. We intend to bring the people’s voice to this crisis response.”
