Legislators spar over a resolution that would urge the Governor to reconsider his 25 percent occupancy limitation for businesses in Phase One.
Alexandria Representative Lance Harris says the limit is crippling struggling businesses.
“25 percent occupancy is tying two hands behind the backs of these restaurants and telling them to get into the boxing ring,” says Harris.
Social distancing guidelines call for businesses to space households out six feet away from other households and plot out table seating that leaves ten feet of space.
Harris says the success essential businesses had during the stay at home order and regulations allowing casinos to have 50 percent of gaming positions open undercuts the Governor’s position.
“Even the casinos should employ Trump’s guidelines on opening up a business to get America open again which means businesses can decide what that protocol is according to the CDC,” says Harris.
The request to urge the Governor to reconsider the limit was successfully amended onto a resolution that passed the House.
Amite Representative Robby Carter opposed the amendment. He says the guidelines are in place to save lives.
“Health prevails over business, especially in these times, and I cannot vote for this amendment because I put the safety of my family and my constituents above the profits shown by some business,” says Carter.
Carter says lifting the 25 percent cap now would be too soon, but businesses should not have to endure the limit for long. He cited comments by Governor Edwards indicating the state is currently on track to lift the 25 percent limit in Phase Two which may take effect in early June.
“We are reviewing that again and it may go to 50 percent or 75 percent depending on whether there is a bump in the number of reported cases and deaths,” says Carter.
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