Sunshine Sentinel

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is being heralded as an example of effective conservative leadership after steadfastly coming out this week against future lockdowns.

"We will never do any of these lockdowns again, and I hear people say they'll shut down the country, and honestly I cringe," DeSantis said in a press conference held in The Villages on Monday.

Florida’s lockdown lasted the entirety of April and May.

It just does not make sense to require those who are at low risk of ill effects from COVID-19 to drop out of society, DeSantis said.

"Quarantining healthy people, I think, is a big problem," he said.

COVID-19 hospitalization rates in Florida are down 60 percent from a June high.  Florida opened up from lockdown on June 1, weeks before most states, in time to accommodate the summer tourism season.

Meanwhile other Republican governors are facing criticism over their perceived lack of commitment to reopening schools and businesses.

A letter signed by 119 Republican political donors on July 30 requested Texas Gov. Greg Abbott take more leadership, particularly in ensuring students are back in school this fall.

The signees of the letter to Abbott offered a simpler strategy to the problem, which is applicable to all governors….reopen schools.

“Governor Abbott, Texan families need your strong leadership on schools right now,” the letter states. “So much hinges on whether school children are in classrooms – most of all, our young Texans’ well-being, and their parent’s ability to work and provide for themselves. Texas, of all places, should be leading the way for the nation in how we balance our shared desire to minimize the threat from COVID while going about our lives.”

The Texas Tribune reported school districts throughout the state are still unprepared to ensure proper digital education is being delivered due to access issues among other problems. 

Education researchers are anticipating permanent effects if traditional education does not resume soon. 

The group argued that school should be opened immediately statewide given school children are “impervious” to the virus and high schoolers are at a very low risk of serious illness.

Abbott has not developed a systematic statewide approach to school re-openings.

In Arizona, Gov. Doug Ducey came under early criticism from within the state Republican Party after extending the initial lockdown.

School districts have requested state guidelines. But, as in Texas, public schools in Arizona are left up to determine on their own when to reopen.

Even when schools do choose to reopen they could face pushback. Teachers in San Tan Valley, Ariz. recently held a "sick out" in protest of schools re-opening. It is illegal for public servants to strike.

Just this week in Scottsdale parents and student led a rally to re-open schools. The school district has said they plan on allowing elementary schools to reopen in September. 

Elsewhere in the state private and charter schools resumed in-person instruction weeks ago without reporting any ill effects.

In Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine is facing articles of impeachment filed by a fellow Republican for alleged constitutional violations related to arbitrarily imposing restrictions on Ohio’s citizens and schools.