ITHACA, NY (WSKG) - New York 23rd District Congressman Tom Reed said governors have the right to continue to keep businesses closed to contain the spread of COVID-19 even if there is a federal decision to re-open activities across the country.
"If a state chooses, in its own state jurisdiction, to say, ‘You know what? Appreciate the national order. Appreciate the national standard, but we’re gonna choose to,’ - for whatever reason - that governor wants to do that, ‘keep our state closed,' - then I will tell you, I believe the state has the authority to issue such a thing," Reed said during a conference call with reporters on Tuesday.
Reed said any such conflict can be easily avoided by keeping lines of communication open between federal and state officials.
President Trump has said that whatever decision he makes about re-opening the country should override any governor's decision to the contrary. He then softened that approach, saying he'd work with states.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said Tuesday that Trump was acting like a king. He struck a softer cord during his daily briefing on Tuesday, saying he won’t fight with the President.