Governor Abbott Issues Executive Order Establishing Strike Force To Open Texas

[Right_in_Virginia]

Governor Abbott Issues Executive Order Establishing Strike Force To Open Texas
Office of the Texas Governor | Greg Abbott, April 17, 2020

Governor Greg Abbott today held a press conference where he issued three new Executive Orders to begin the process of reopening the state of Texas while revising hospital capacity and certain social distancing guidelines. Within the orders, select activities and services that pose minimal to no threat of spreading COVID-19 are allowed to reopen using a "Retail-To-Go" model, certain restrictions on surgeries have been loosened, and schools will remain closed for the remainder of the 2019-2020 academic year.

Within these orders, the Governor has established the Strike Force to Open Texas—a team of nationally recognized medical experts and private and public leaders who will advise the Governor on safely and strategically reopening the state of Texas.

"Texans are battling a colossal challenge—an invisible enemy that has tested our lives and our livelihoods—but overcoming challenges is part of who we are as Texans," said Governor Abbott. "We have shown that Texas can continue our efforts to contain COVID-19 while also adopting safe standards that will allow us to begin the process of reopening Texas. The Strike Force to Open Texas brings together nationally recognized medical experts with public and private sector leaders to achieve this mission. By coming together, we can get Texans back to work, practice safe standards that will prevent the spread of COVID-19, and we can overcome this pandemic."

James Huffines will lead the advisory strike force and Mike Toomey will serve as Chief Operating Officer. Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, House Speaker Dennis Bonnen, Attorney General Ken Paxton, and Comptroller Glenn Hegar will serve as consulting members.

In addition, Governor Abbott has appointed Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Commissioner John Hellerstedt, MD, as Chief Medical Officer of the strike force. Dr. Hellerstedt will be supported by three Chief Medical Advisors:

More:  https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-issues-executive-order-establishing-strike-force-to-open-texas

[austingirl]

I can see my dentist in June. Yippee! Still no God-given or constitutional rights returned.

[Elderberry]

Why in the world is Dennis Bonnen a Consulting Member?

Hasn't he done enough harm already?

[Elderberry]

Over 200 Texas Grassroots Leaders Demand Abbott Deliver Plan for Reopening Texas

Texas Scorecard By Cary Cheshire April 17, 2020   

https://texasscorecard.com/state/over-200-texas-grassroots-leaders-demand-abbott-deliver-plan-for-reopening-texas/

Signing on to the letter are 216 leaders representing 198 unique organizations, political precincts, and districts.

Over 200 leaders across Texas are calling on Gov. Greg Abbott to deliver a data-driven and citizen-first plan to move beyond the Chinese coronavirus and reopen the Texas economy.

In a letter signed by 216 leaders representing 198 unique organizations, political precincts, and districts, signers are calling on Abbott to stop waiting on Washington and allowing local officials to run amok, and instead take a leading role and chart an end to this crisis.

A copy of that letter can be found below:

Dear Governor Abbott,

The Chinese Coronavirus pandemic and the government-ordered responses to it are devastating the Texas economy and imposing untold harm on Texas families. The additional burden of the Russia-Saudi Arabia oil fight has compounded the economic drag.

Thankfully, infections, hospitalizations, and even deaths have fallen far short of the worst-case scenarios some had projected. The virus appears to be on the decline worldwide and especially in Texas very soon if not already.

Texas should enact a clearly communicated and citizen-driven plan to prudently and carefully return Texans to work, to church, and possibly back to school.

State Reps. Matt Krause and Mike Lang sent excellent recommendations, presenting strong suggestions on how to move the economy again and stand Texans back on their feet. Those recommendations include removing the distinction between “essential” and “non-essential” businesses; allowing restaurants, gyms, salons, and other businesses to reopen provided they take commonsense measures to maintain social distancing; and, continuing to waive regulations already waived for an extended and defined period.

Both sets of suggestions are strong on “recommendations” and short on mandates. That is as it should be; trust your fellow Texans to self-govern. Lang and Krause offer a roadmap which, if correctly implemented, would do much to assist hardworking Texans in restoring normalcy and our state’s economy.

A number of other ideas should be prudently reviewed and considered. For example, we strongly encourage you to re-open the state’s parks. Similarly, please force local entities to lift the onerous restrictions they have foisted on Texans and curtail their ability to impose others.

Few are expecting or proposing an immediate lifting of all restrictions and recommendations imposed by the state as we seek to recover from this pandemic, but every restrictive order that remains must be justified with facts and accompanied by clearly communicated standards and timelines for its lifting.

More at link.

[mystery-ak]

Gov. Abbott Announces Strike Force to Reopen the Lone Star State: ‘We Will Open Texas’

Hannah Bleau 17 Apr 2020

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) appears to be leading the charge on the grand reopening of America, detailing plans to reopen the Lone Star state during a press conference on Friday — moves that will expand elective surgeries, allow retailers to resume operations under a “Retail-To-Go” model, see the reopening of state parks, and beyond.

Abbott is issuing three executive orders outlining moves to reopen the state, just one day after President Trump provided the federal guidelines for reopening the country:

First, Abbott outlined the duties of the Strike Force to Open Texas: “a team of nationally recognized medical experts and private and public leaders who will advise the Governor on safely and strategically reopening the state of Texas.”

The team will gather information and outline safe practices businesses should use as the state gears up to reopen. It will also examine “all strategies that may open up Texas while also keeping us protected from the expansion of COVID-19.”

Abbott said the state will reopen in a methodical, phased approach, and announced the expansion of elective medical procedures, citing the state of doctors, nurses, hospitals, and medical staff who have been “sidelined” by the postponement of such procedures.

more with video
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2020/04/17/gov-abbott-announces-strike-force-to-reopen-the-lone-star-state-we-will-open-texas/