Lots of chattter about Trump saying its his call to open the country. Can he do it? That will be a call for the Supreme Court in the end. Personally I don't think he can but time will tell.
But what can he do? He can issue his directive that this is how the country is going to reopen. States can take it or leave it if they choose. But will they? Will their people allow it? Will one state who decides to stay closed while ther neighbor opens feel the push to reopen too.
So what can the States do? There is now a compact between three western states and some in the northeast. I'm not sure this is legel since I believe ( not researched yet so I could be wrong) that states cannot enter into a compact with another state without congressional approval. And If I'm correct that is yet another thing that may well face legal challenge and head to the Supreme court. Or not. I understand why these states would find this to be a good thing, but it also has the chance of killing their economy if other states are opens they remain closed. That is gonna piss people off.
So what can the President do? Like I said he can issue his directive and say, open it up on this schedule. It would either be followed by the States or not. He can end the National Emegency and all the funding and services that go to the states along with it. He can also, since he must approve of each States declaration of an Emergency, end those. That would reduce the power of each State to do certain things and also eliminate some funding. Neither of these woud be popular but they remain in the Prsidents toolbox. And then there is the National Defence Production Act. Its could be possible for the President to just say every business in the US in vital to our National Defence and must be opened. This one would is a bit of a push and a bunch of people would go nuts, and court cases would follow. But its a possibility. How about the Interstate Commerce Clause? Not sure about that one. The point here is that the President has some options and I'm sure he and his legal team could find a few more. All of these are sure to be challenged legally...just like what would have happend if he had tried to close the country down in the beginning.
What will he do? I'm not sure, but I suspect he will issue his directive and thats going to be it. It will pressure some to open and it will likely resonate with people who are out of work and want to get back to earning money. I'm sure many will be just fine with setting home and raking in the government cash, State unemployment and the extra 600 a week in fed cash. In Indiana thats almost a Thousand bucks a week per worker. For a lot of people thats more than they earn working so there will be little incentive for them to go back to work. You get 26 weeks of that if I'm not mistaken. He would still have his bully pulpit to scold those who don't and praise those that do.
Trump will be far better off in my opinion to issue his directive and then let the States do their thing. Suscess or failure will ride on thier shoulders. But lets face it no matter what he does or does not do, there will wails from the peanut gallery that he is kiiling people or killing the economy. Its just the nature of the beast.
