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* Press release…
Today, Governors JB Pritzker (IL), Gretchen Whitmer (MI), Mike DeWine (OH), Tony Evers (WI), Tim Walz (MN), Eric Holcomb (IN) and Andy Beshear (KY) announced that they will work in close coordination to reopen the economy in the Midwest region.
The governors said, “We are doing everything we can to protect the people of our states and slow the spread of COVID-19, and we are eager to work together to mitigate the economic crisis this virus has caused in our region. Here in the Midwest, we are bound by our commitment to our people and the community. We recognize that our economies are all reliant on each other, and we must work together to safely reopen them so hardworking people can get back to work and businesses can get back on their feet.
“Today, we are announcing that Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Indiana, and Kentucky will work in close coordination to reopen our economies in a way that prioritizes our workers’ health. We look forward to working with experts and taking a fact-based, data-driven approach to reopening our economy in a way that protect families from the spread of COVID-19.
“Our number one priority when analyzing when best to reopen our economy is the health and safety of our citizens. We will make decisions based on facts, science, and recommendations from experts in health care, business, labor, and education.
“We will closely examine at least these four factors when determining when best to reopen our economy:
• Sustained control of the rate of new infections and hospitalizations.
• Enhanced ability to test and trace.
• Sufficient health care capacity to handle resurgence.
• And best practices for social distancing in the workplace.“Phasing in sectors of our economy will be most effective when we work together as a region. This doesn’t mean our economy will reopen all at once, or that every state will take the same steps at the same time. But close coordination will ensure we get this right. Over time, people will go back to work, restaurants will reopen, and things will go back to normal. We look forward to working together as one region to tackle this challenge together.”
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 1:24 pm
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And Wisconsin just extended the Stay at Home Order until May 26 so with this new coordination we will probably see something similar for IL
Comment by FinanceCity Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 1:26 pm
Missouri and Iowa are conspiuously missing. Wait. Why is that? They never did a stay at home order. You want to look at failures during this pandemic you can start with the Governor’s who failed, these two being two of them.
Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 1:28 pm
I hope they asked for Trump’s permission before they sent out this press release.
Comment by Montrose Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 1:28 pm
wow….hope….
Comment by amalia Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 1:32 pm
Actually heartened that these specific states are teaming up with Illinois.
I’m liking Ohio, Michigan, and Minnesota in this group.
This seems like some thoughtful governors will be with our governor shaping next steps.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 1:33 pm
The way governing should look.
Comment by Southern Illinois Mayor Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 1:33 pm
Dem - First of all, Missouri has one, but STL did shut down before Illinois did I believe, or close to the same time anyway. Iowa still doesn’t have one, but look at their numbers and get back to us.
Comment by EmptyMailbox Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 1:34 pm
Please don’t hire McKinsey like the New York region did
Comment by Oak Parker Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 1:35 pm
It’s like the “Hunger Games” districts?
Thanks… federal government.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 1:36 pm
==their models who have since been proved to be==
Thanks. I ignore the no big deal deniers like you
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 1:41 pm
Great bipartisan cooperation - awesome to see IN and OH in that coalition. Clearly someone is doing something right.
Golly, though, wonder if Trump ok’d this since he has total authority.
Comment by Chicago Cynic Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 1:42 pm
==I’m liking Ohio, Michigan, and Minnesota in this group.==
Did Kentucky break your heart?
Comment by City Zen Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 1:56 pm
=== Kentucky===
Strong family roots in Kentucky
Maybe I was worried we’d be saddled with North Dakota, South Dakota and Iowa.
That work for you, or no?
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 1:58 pm
Hopefully the guvs can reach a consensus on what are essential vs. non-.
Comment by bogey golfer Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 1:59 pm
In the absence of federal leadership (like, heaven forbid, DJT be seen wearing a mask), it’s good to see regional governors take charge.
Comment by Jocko Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 2:00 pm
It’s kind of weird when they have quotations for multiple people in the press release. I just imagine them saying it all at the same time like the Borg.
Comment by NIU Grad Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 2:01 pm
Why not Missouri? We share a very integrated economic model and co-existence with them. Seems a bit premature to put this out and not have some mention of what’s going on with collab with MO. Are we to infer that communique is not happening?
They have pretty much ended school for the year and extended the SAH order indefinitely. Maybe JellyBean doesn’t like that kind of long-term pessimism….
Comment by MidState Anon Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 2:05 pm
Iowa wanted to be in the Midwest Compact of states but they had a caucus vote on the matter, it’s still “too close to call”
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 2:06 pm
Pessimism correlated with realism, unfortunately.
Comment by MidState Anon Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 2:07 pm
Demoralized -
And IL shares metropolitan areas with both MO and IA. While the StL Metro area governments have been responsive, MO Governor, not so much. IA’s Governor? Banned IL residents from IA golf courses.
Comment by Anyone Remember Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 2:08 pm
What no catchy name for this? How disappointing.
Seriously, this is a really good bipartisan move. It underscores that we really are all in this together. Disappointing for the people of IA and MO that they aren’t joining. Safety in numbers.
Comment by Pundent Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 2:10 pm
Good move.
This and the other regional coalitions make me wonder what, exactly, the White House’s multiple working groups and coordinators are doing.
I hope the group is working to recruit more states in our region…Iowa and Missouri would be nice additions. I also hope they are working with the other regional groups.
Comment by Pot calling kettle Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 2:11 pm
There was a time when Iowa was a reasonable entity with a respect for science and common sense. Sigh.
Comment by Scamp640 Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 2:14 pm
Willy, Jocko, Demoralized–no snark, I love this statement by the governors, but I am surprised you support it. This statement acknowledges that “new infections and hospitalizations” will continue in some way while reopening begins. They want to control and trace those infections, but they acknowledge the infections won’t be eliminated. Is that not, in practice, trading lives for money and advocating a policy that will put people in the ICU? Again, zero snark. I’d love it if it turns out we all agree on the approach.
Comment by bailbond Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 2:14 pm
===Wisconsin just extended the Stay at Home Order until May 26===
Ohio’s Governor DeWine just said this afternoon that Ohio would start to reopen May 1 in phases.
Comment by Ex. Prairie Stater Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 2:16 pm
- bailbond -
=== “We will closely examine at least these four factors when determining when best to reopen our economy:
• Sustained control of the rate of new infections and hospitalizations.
• Enhanced ability to test and trace.
• Sufficient health care capacity to handle resurgence.
• And best practices for social distancing in the workplace.===
Until I know what the thresholds each and every state will agree that those criteria are met, looking at governors working with governors is good for this region.
Keep in mind also, I don’t think Gov. Pritzker will wholly remove his own criteria to wholly accept that as the new and only criteria.
I can read.
I can also wait to hear at 2:30 what this means for Illinois… individually too.
With respect.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 2:18 pm
=== Is that not, in practice, trading lives for money and advocating a policy that will put people in the ICU? Again, zero snark. I’d love it if it turns out we all agree on the approach.===
The only way that becomes as arbitrary as you’d like is if the science is ignored for the rational.
That would be a huge 180 degree change for Gov. Pritzker.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 2:20 pm
===They have pretty much ended school for the year and extended the SAH order indefinitely. Maybe JellyBean doesn’t like that kind of long-term pessimism….
It seems more likely that Missouri and Iowa declined. Generally an announcement isn’t going to point this out. Is there some evidence that Parsons or Reynolds are interested in coordination at this point?
Comment by ArchPundit Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 2:23 pm
I appreciate the company bb put me in. TBH, my biggest source of frustration (something I hope everyone can agree upon) is the federal government abdicating it’s responsibility to test and trace.
Comment by Jocko Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 2:30 pm
=Seems a bit premature to put this out and not have some mention of what’s going on with collab with MO.=
I suspect that either explicitly or implicitly MO and IA did not want to participate. The only way this works is if you put public health concerns in front of political ones. The governors of those states seem to be struggling in that regard.
Comment by Pundent Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 2:41 pm
The governor reiterated… its Illinois’ criteria that will be what moves Illinois.
Rich will have the transcript up later.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 3:16 pm
Well, at least the metrics aren’t in his head. Rather, he has thought about what will be used to decide when to reopen the State.
Comment by Huh? Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 3:43 pm
Why is Missouri not partnering with IL and the other states?
Comment by Mama Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 3:47 pm
Each state will ultimately decide the circumstances that will support reopening and we’ve already seen today that dates will be different. Obviously disease spread and resources vary from state to state.
What this does do is reinforce that they’ll be applying the same standards and criteria which will be rooted in science and informed by health professionals. If you don’t like that well now you’ve got a beef with Republican and Democratic governors.
Comment by Pundent Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 4:14 pm
Wait, we closed the economy? Sounds like someone shifted the narrative.
The economy is still open. It’s just different and more limited in some ways, and more expanded in others.
Businesses may need to adapt to survive. They shouldn’t risk my life instead.
Here in Champaign County we received letters from the school reminding us that classes resume after April 30th and graduation will be held as originally scheduled in the State Farm Center — we should reserve our child’s cap and gown now.
Sounds like the cap and gown people need the economy “opened” too.
Comment by Stuff Happens Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 4:35 pm
Remember if this becomes the Hunger Games- with the states we just partnered with, we have the fresh water. I give us a pretty good chance of surviving.
Comment by Frank talks Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 4:56 pm
Iowa still counting ballots. Please don’t distract them. Also they allow golf in Ohio.
Comment by Eire17 Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 5:39 pm
I’m with Eire17. Lets follow Ohio - let golf happen with no clubhouses and stakes instead of cups. Kids going stir crazy and it’s more socially distanced than a sidewalk — which is our only other option nearby
Comment by WH Mess Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 7:49 pm