Novi Times

In late December, Michigan Sen. Jim Runestad (R-White Lake) chastised Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's prolonged closure of the state's restaurants, which has now been extended through Monday, Feb. 1.

“I’m incredibly disappointed and outraged at the governor’s decision to keep restaurants, their employees and food industry workers out of work this Christmas season, while allowing certain other handpicked businesses to continue to operate," Runestad said, according to MiSenateGOP.

Runestad said that Whitmer's claims that she is relying on science are false, alleging that she ignored science showing that the spread of the coronavirus in restaurants is relatively low. "And still, her administration refuses to show what scientific metrics they're following," Runestad told MiSenateGOP.

Sen. Jim Runestad | #MiSenateGOP

The senator affirmed that it doesn't make sense to allow holiday shoppers to crowd into stores, while at the same time prohibiting patrons from dining in restaurants. 

"The completely random nature of the orders is insulting to every multigenerational restaurateur, every chef and waitstaff, and every food service family member who is trying to make ends meet," Runestad told MiSenateGOP. "Instead of working with the Legislature like the Supreme Court intended in their ruling against her previous executive orders, the Whitmer administration continues to go it alone in issuing orders through the Department of Health and Human Services. We all want to put safety first and fight this virus. But we need to fight it together, and with a little common sense.”

Last week, Whitmer announced that Michigan's restaurants can begin opening on Monday, Feb. 1, at 25% capacity, up to 100 people, with tables socially distanced, and must close by 10 p.m. nightly.