February 10, 2021 9:40 a.m.

Former restaurateur and current State Representative, David Brock Smith, has introduced legislation, The COVID Business Equity Act, that he said will bring equity across the business sector during the remainder of the State of Emergency related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Brock Smith said, “For nearly a year of a rollercoaster of business closures, tens of thousands of Oregonians have been unemployed from the hospitality sector across our state”. He said many of those entrepreneurs in the hospitality sector are being forced to close their doors forever. Brock Smith said these business owners, their employees and families, “…have faced extreme hardships with devastating delays in business relief, unemployment insurance payments, with little to no income in sight”. He said that the majority of these impacted Oregonians are the most vulnerable working families across the state.

Brock Smith said there must be equity across all business sectors regarding COVID-19 mandates and closures. He said the hospitality industry takes great measures assuring safety and provides “…an extremely sanitary environment for dining”. The release said big box stores and other essential open businesses are less sanitary and require far more self-regulation than conditions within eateries.

The release said legislators have been telling constituents that while not in session, they have no authority to intervene on the Governor’s Executive Orders related to the COVID-19 emergency subsequent mandates and their closures. Brock Smith said now that the legislative session is underway, “…its past time for the legislative branch to assert our responsibility; and I would argue the obligation, in guiding policy and lead in this work for the residents that put us here to do so”.

State Representative David Brock Smith talked about his proposal on the Morning Conversation Wednesday on News Radio 1240 KQEN. That interview is a KQEN podcast at www.541radio.com.