FederalismEconomic PolicyAmerican Government

Governors Given Plan To Reopen State Economies Amid COVID-19

Posted on in Federalism · Economic Policy · American Government

On April 17, President Trump announced federal guidelines to reopen the economy amid the Coronavirus pandemic. States that meet certain criteria, such as a continuous decrease in positive COVID-19 cases or hospital occupancy over a two-week period, can begin gradually reopening businesses, restaurants and schools. However, some public health experts have warned that many states have not yet reached a point where it is safe to reopen.

Instructors, click the link below to download this week’s lecture for use in your classroom. The deck contains a writing prompt and a debate question as well as other assessment questions.

Download the PowerPoint Lecture Spark for Governors Given Plan To Reopen State Economies Amid COVID-19

Links

“Trump gives governors 3-phase plan to reopen economy”
https://apnews.com/420a38ec14101eab70e07be367ee6422
 
“Governors feel heat to reopen from protesters, president”
https://apnews.com/4f37a0182dfdaeee5d14484b2a25674b
 
“Advisers warn Trump his push to reopen economy carries political risks”
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/advisers-warn-trump-his-push-to-reopen-economy-carries-political-risks/ar-BB12O31P
 
“No Plan In Sight: Test Troubles Cloud Trump Recovery Effort”
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/no-plan-in-sight-test-troubles-cloud-trump-recovery-effort_n_5e9af60fc5b635d25d6d2eb1?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly9uZXdzLmdvb2dsZS5jb20v&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAHWINcs9CF2YircJdUhmAqFgqaRVyCk_svtp55RyTdNQXA67V96eImCG6YOau3FDumdzPwLjEjLgCNvUf6A8sKrJlkdlFa8679IZPqwUFc1fjXyiNALDlfJcSI1haVEJWcu04hgT7XZLK4XHN_4ieddZNoGBQ6aCiW8C7jJJA0x-

“Trump is playing with fire”
https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/18/opinions/trump-is-playing-with-fire-ghitis/index.html
 
“Some states are taking small steps to reopen. Here’s what they’re doing”
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/04/18/some-states-taking-steps-to-reopen-193611
 
“Trump’s re-opening committee is packed with his biggest donors”
https://theweek.com/speedreads/909609/trumps-reopening-committee-packed-biggest-donors

Assessment

  • Writing: Describe the 3 phases being proposed by the federal government to reopen state economies. Include the businesses that will be impacted by each phase in your description. What is the role of the federal government in relation to states reopening?
  • Debate: The federal government, rather than state governors, should be in charge of coordinating the reopening of the country’s economy. This is within the federal government’s constitutional authority.
  • Poll: Given what you know about the COVID-19 pandemic, do you think states are reopening too soon?
  • Short Answer: Will all states be able to immediately resume business as usual?

Current events quiz:

1) What are the criteria needed for a state to reopen its economy?

a. Increased availability of coronavirus tests
b. A decrease in positive COVID-19 cases
c. A decrease in hospital occupancy
d. All of the above

2) Which government official(s) have the final say over how states will resume business operations?

a. The president
b. The state governors
c. Public health officials
d. All of the above

3) When do the federal guidelines suggest that states may begin to relax social distancing measure?

a. May 1st
b. June 1st
c. July 1st
d. August 1st

4) Protests against stay-at-home orders have been organized by anarchist groups and Biden supporters across several states (T/F)

5) In Florida, some beaches have reopened with social distancing guidelines in place (T/F)

6) Dr. Anthony Fauci has suggested that states currently have enough testing and medical equipment to adequately respond to any possible resurgence (T/F)

Answers:

1) D

2) B

3) A

4) False

5) True

6) False

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Featured Image Tony Webster 

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