Del Marsh: ‘There has to be a balance’ between the medical, economic perspectives in state’s coronavirus response

Unfortunately, the coronavirus pandemic has resulted in hard times for some businesses, particularly for small business in an age where big business dominates so much of the landscape.

A few members of the Alabama legislature have decried the state government for picking winners and losers in its declaration of what businesses are essential and non-essential.

During an interview that aired Friday on Alabama Public Television’s “Capitol Journal,” State Senate President Pro-Tem Del Marsh (R-Anniston) called for a balance that would correct some of those issues once circumstances allow for it. He also indicated Gov. Kay Ivey had been responsive to those concerns.

“I do believe this: We want to save as many lives as possible,” Marsh said. “I think we’re doing that. But thus far, everything has been driven pretty much from a medical perspective. I do think it is our responsibility to bring the economic voice into the conversation at a time. There has to be a balance somewhere. I’ve expressed that to the governor. I think she is trying to do that. You can’t pick winners and losers. And that’s what I’m hearing from the business community right now, especially small business. They have a hard enough time competing against the big box stores, and they feel that through this process, they have been given a little bit more to deal with or a better situation than they have to deal with. I’ve expressed that to the governor.”

“I think what’s going to happen — what we’re trying to do is as long as we can get certain parameters to work toward, a certain number of cases — hopefully a decrease in the number of cases,” he continued. “[Personal protective] equipment in place, ventilators in place, hospital beds if we need them. If we get those things in place, then my hope is we can start easing on some of the economic restrictions we have, get people back to work and at the same time have as many of our citizens are safe as possible — that’s the balance we’re trying to keep, and the governor is working on that.”

@Jeff_Poor is a graduate of Auburn University and the University of South Alabama, the editor of Breitbart TV, a columnist for Mobile’s Lagniappe Weekly and host of Huntsville’s’s “The Jeff Poor Show” from 2-5 p.m. on WVNN.