Muskegon Sun

Michigan Rep. Greg VanWoerkom (R-Norton Shores) supports an effort to continue the state of emergency, according to a press release. VanWoerkom said that he supported the extension to keep families safe.

"The health and well-being of West Michigan families and residents across the state will always be my top priority, which is why I supported to extend the state of emergency an additional three weeks,” VanWoerkom said in the press release. “Here in Michigan, we’ve seen firsthand the magnitude of the coronavirus outbreak."

VanWoerkom said in that it was crucial to take a practical approach to the pandemic.

"This is a rapidly evolving situation that constitutes an extension of the emergency, but we cannot accurately predict a state of emergency well into the middle of June, as the governor has proposed," he said told Michigan House Republicans. "Evaluating the outbreak a few weeks at a time will allow for much-needed flexibility and help maximize our efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19 in Michigan."

VanWoerkom said he was still concerned about the lack of information provided by the administration regarding the situation.

"As elected officials in an equal branch of government who need to make important policy decisions, including approving an extension of the state of emergency, we must have access to critical data on positive and negative tests, hospitalizations, length of stay, capacity and prior health conditions of COVID-19 patients," VanWoerkom said in the press release. "Our decisions have consequences — especially under the circumstances we find ourselves in today. The people of Michigan deserve the peace of mind knowing their elected officials are governing on facts and not predictions."

VanWoerkom said he wants the governor to do more to help families that are struggling. He added that he hopes the governor's administration will be helping to fix the unemployment system, as well as revising emergency rules.