Georgia Rep. Doug Collins Thursday criticized his state's Gov. Brian Kemp for allowing tattoo shops, gyms, hair salons, and other businesses to reopen while the coronavirus outbreak continues to grow.
"My concern was not having the local input into that," Collins, R-Ga., told Fox News' "Fox and Friends." "Clear communication is what has to happen. When you’re telling people to still stay at home, but yet we’re going to open certain businesses, that creates a problem in which people are not sure what to do.”
Kemp said earlier this week that many businesses that were closed to curb the spread of coronavirus can reopen on Friday if owners follow strict social distancing and hygiene requirements. He added that by Monday, movie theaters could start selling tickets again, and restaurants could return to offering limited dine-in services.
President Donald Trump said Wednesday he disagrees with Kemp, but won't interfere.
"The president wants the country open," Collins said. "I want the country open. The governor wants the country open. The problem is, how do you do it?"
Meanwhile, with members of the House to vote Thursday on legislation adding money to the Paycheck Protection Program and for testing, Collins said he thinks another look needs to be taken at where the money is going.
"When you need to get a lot of money to a lot of people real quickly, a lot of people that don't need it are eligible to take it," he said, adding that 74% of the first round of payouts went to small businesses with payrolls of less than $60,000 a month.
"That means we are getting a lot to small businesses," Collins said.
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.