SACRAMENTO – Today Assemblymembers James Gallagher (R-Yuba City) and Kevin Kiley (R-Rocklin) called for an end to state-level COVID-19 restrictions in California, introducing Assembly Concurrent Resolution 46 to terminate Governor Newsom’s emergency powers. The Resolution is coauthored by other North State leaders, including Assemblymember Megan Dahle and Senators Brian Dahle and Jim Nielsen.
Gallagher and Kiley will be hosting a Zoom Press Conference on Tuesday, March 16 at 9:30 a.m. They will be joined by County Supervisors Bonnie Gore (Placer), Karm Bains (Sutter), and Tod Kimmelshue (Butte).
Over the past few months, 14 counties in California have adopted or expressed support for the Healthy Communities Resolution, which rejects the state’s top down, one-size-fits-all Blueprint for a Safer Economy. Counties that have formally adopted or expressed support for the resolution include Butte, Colusa, Del Norte, El Dorado, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Orange, Placer, San Luis Obispo, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sutter, and Yuba. A document with each county resolution or letter of support is attached.
A growing number of geographically and politically diverse states have already lifted all or most of their statewide restrictions and returned decision-making power to the local level. California, by contrast, is last in the nation in opening its schools as well as its businesses. The AP recently reported that “California and Florida have experienced almost identical outcomes in COVID-19 case rates” despite their differing approaches, and that “states with greater government-imposed restrictions have not always fared better than those without them.”
“Gavin Newsom’s response to COVID-19 has been a failure by any measure,” Kiley said. “Rather than needlessly continue to destroy lives and livelihoods, the state should trust local communities and the people of California to make their own decisions.”
“It’s time to end the Governor’s top down rule and restore local control,” Gallagher added. “This arbitrary tiered system has devastated our businesses, employees, and our kids’ education far too long already. Other states have done just as well or better responding to COVID-19 without this heavy handed approach.”