Tri-City Sun

State Rep. Jason Sheppard (R-Dist. 56) believes the governor's most recent executive orders place greater restrictions on the northern areas of Michigan.

The orders "lack logic and are incongruous with the COVID-19 data being reported," Sheppard said in a release issued recently on the Michigan House Republicans website. For instance, the orders limit indoor functions to 10 people and completely order bars to shut down indoor service in Traverse City. But the Detroit casinos are allowed to reopen at a limited capacity.

“It makes no sense,” Sheppard said in the release. “At this point, the governor has changed so much without any clear data thresholds to spark the changes, there should be no mystery why people have questions about what the rules are and why the rules are different throughout the state.”

Sheppard also noted that residents are having a hard time using the unemployment system. “How do you explain to someone that casinos are allowed to open but it’s not yet safe for the state unemployment offices to reopen?” Sheppard continued. “I’ve heard from hundreds of people who are exasperated because they can’t get in touch with anyone when they call the unemployment system."