Macomb Today

Critics don't agree with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's new restrictions to the state's stay-at-home order, saying the latest order goes too far.

Many Republicans are criticizing her decision to close garden centers and classify landscapers as nonessential, WZZM13 reports.

House Speaker Lee Chatfield (R-Levering) told WZZM13 that the restrictions are a step in the wrong direction. "Instead of essential vs. nonessential, we should think, safe vs. unsafe," Chatfield Tweeted about the issue.

Chatfield believes real estate, construction, lawn care and buying seeds or garden supplies as things that can be made safe, and he doesn't agree with Whitmer's decision to have them listed under "nonessential."

Senate Leader Mike Shirkey (R-Clarklake) also criticized Whitmer's decision.

"The Senate Republicans believe a strategic application of 'Stay Home, Stay Safe' is appropriate going forward," Shirkey said in a statement provided to WZZM13. "Individuals living in regions of the state that are experiencing little to no growth in infection rates should be able to return to their jobs to support their families if proper safety protocols are put in place."

Rep. Jeff Yaroch (R-Richmond) shared a statement on the Michigan House Republicans website, saying that while he wants citizens to stay safe, the Constitution also needs to be protected.

“When I think about what our first responders and health care workers are going through to respond to this pandemic,” Yaroch said in his statement, “I do not think it is a heavy lift for me to wear a mask to session to fulfill my duty. We need to prevent the spread of this virus to keep people from dying, but we also need to get back to work as soon as it is safe so that we all can provide for our families. We can, we will get through this.”