 On Wednesday the Governor issued a warning that 15 Oregon counties had entered the Extreme Risk category. More lockdowns would be forthcoming. The Governor is ruling with old knowledge about COVID-19 as if we were still in April 2020 of last year. However, today we know much more about how this virus is spread, how to treat it and what actions work—and don’t work. The Governor’s administration is unilaterally returning to tactics that only result in sending Oregonians to the unemployment line. A side-effect of lockdowns is that this policy prolongs the threat of the virus, putting those in the high risk categories at greater risk.
One thing is for certain: COVID-19 is not an equal opportunity virus; it effects every person different. What we also now know:
- The age of mortality for this disease is around 78 years old. Life expectancy in the US is also 78 years old.
- The virus is more dangerous to people who are morbidly obese.
- The virus is more dangerous to those with diabetes.
- The virus, as is any virus, is more dangerous to the elderly or those with compromised immune systems.
- The 6 feet social distancing number was not based on scientific evidence.
- Masks are ineffective outdoors.
- We have several vaccines available
- We have effective treatments for COVID-19 patients.
What Are Other States Doing?
This week, New York’s legislature repealed several coronavirus-related executive orders, nearly two months after stripping Governor Andrew Cuomo of pandemic-era emergency powers. Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart Cousins, a Democrat, explained the decision by saying it is time to begin removing certain restrictions and regulations that are no longer necessary, in order to rebuild the state’s economy.
Here in Oregon, Governor Brown is blazing a trail all alone — and in the wrong direction. She continues to clutch onto her emergency powers. The legislature is the people’s public policy branch of government. However, for over a year, concerning COVID-19, the Governor has made this her sole purview. This is wrong. Important decisions that affect every Oregonian should not be made by the Governor and her agencies behind closed-doors. Coronavirus public policy decisions are the sole responsibility of the legislature, whose process unlike the Governor’s, is open to the public and transparent.
Today, armed with more coronavirus knowledge than a year ago, the Governor should not continue destroying people's livelihoods and the economy with rules that are not based on science and/or contradict the newest CDC recommendations by ignoring the number of Oregonians that have been fully vaccinated. There is no evidence that shutting businesses down will have an impact on transmission rates as data shows that businesses, such as restaurants, have never been a top contributor to higher transmission rates. Furthermore, the demand on hospital beds is not the same as it was last year, now that we have plenty of PPE for our health care providers and the severity of illness from COVID-19 is much lower because of our vaccination rates and natural immunity.
We must restore the Legislature’s ability to hold the Governor and her agencies accountable for these closed-door decisions
 Early in the legislative session I introduced HJR 18 (sponsors Rep. Reschke, Nearman, Post, Owens) — Terminating state of emergency relating to COVID-19 — to restore the balance of power between the Legislature and the Governor. There are other similar bills currently before the legislature:
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HB 2243 (sponsors Rep. Wilde, Lewis, Evans, Owens) - Requires that declarations and extensions of states of emergency under certain statutes be accompanied by written explanations.
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HB 3177 (sponsor Rep. David Brock Smith) - Limits types of restrictions that Governor may impose on certain businesses during state of emergency related to COVID-19 pandemic.
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HB 3350 (sponsor Rep. Witt, Owens) - Prescribes requirements for providing education to students with disability during COVID-19 emergency.
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HB 3243 (sponsor Rep. Reschke) - Provides that civil penalty imposed as result of violation of COVID-19 emergency rule becomes due and payable 50 years after order imposing penalty becomes final.
It is time the legislature step up and take back the powers granted to it by Oregon’s Constitution. It is clear by the Governor’s never-ending 60-day emergency extensions that she has no intention to relinquish control. Let’s use science. Let’s follow the real world data.
I will continue to stand for doing the right things to protect Oregonians and keep businesses open.
Best regards,
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 E. WERNER RESCHKE
State Representative, HD 56
Southern Klamath & Lake Counties
Capitol Phone
(503) 986-1456
Capitol Address
900 Court St. NE, H-384
Salem, OR 97301
Email
Rep.EWernerReschke@oregonlegislature.gov
Website
www.oregonlegislature.gov/reschke
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