Editorial
Let the governors decide
by Washington Examiner
| April 15, 2020 12:00 AM
It is good to see state governors increasingly looking for ways to reopen the economy, for, as we have repeatedly argued, the current lockdown can be only a short-term response to the pandemic. People's lives and livelihoods depend on returning to economic and social activity as soon as it can be done safely. So, new state-level discussions and coordination are welcome news.
Ever since the coronavirus outbreak, decisions about whether to close schools and restrict business activities have been made by governors and local officials. This is exactly how the nation's federal republican structure is set up. This is how it should be.
As this crisis emerged, federalism frustrated those clamoring for President Trump to issue a nationwide lockdown. It may now be frustrating those pushing for a swift national reopening. In both cases, however, this is precisely the sort of situation in which local officials should be tasked with making decisions.
Until this week, Trump had successfully undermined critics who argued that he aspires to be some sort of dictator. If ever Trump were going to make a power grab, it would have been in February or March in response to our national emergency.
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https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/editorials/let-the-governors-decide
