KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas Chamber applauded Gov. Laura Kelly’s decision to allow some businesses in the state to reopen Monday, but also struck a note of caution about long-term consequences of the COVID-19 shutdown.
READ: Gov. Kelly announces state reopening plan
"It has been a difficult few months for Kansas ...,” Chamber President and CEO Alan Cobb said in a statement. “Kansas businesses are committed to reopening, and to safely bringing back their employees and to safely serving their customers so our communities have confidence in our state's reopening."
The Chamber noted that thousands of businesses were forced to close and more than 215,000 workers have filed for unemployment during the last six weeks under the stay-at-home order.
It vowed to monitor the ongoing pandemic “and advocate for additional restrictions to be loosened or eliminated when appropriate, especially for businesses still restricted from opening their doors,” according to a release from the Kansas Chamber.
Cobb noted that Kansas was slow to recover the 2008 recession and urged Kelly and the Kansas Legislature to “consider key legislation and reforms proposed by the state’s business community” and even threatened legal action.
"There is recourse if a county or local health officer becomes too restrictive or unreasonable," Cobb said. "Orders issued by counties, so far, have implicated some due process requirements. While counties can regulate public gatherings, the previous county orders also have invoked the ability of counties to isolate individuals and make them stay home. Under those powers, Kansas businesses and individuals who believe they are unreasonably burdened by overly-restrictive orders generally have the right to a judicial hearing within 72 hours” under state law.
The Chamber urged businesses and individuals who believe it is being subjected to such restrictive orders to call 785-357-6321 or email President@KansasChamber.org.
“More long-term damage will be done to the Kansas economy the longer all businesses are not allowed to fully operate,” Cobb said.