In an interview with Chris Ryan, New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu discusses what businesses should do now that the CDC-Centers for Disease Control has relaxed its mask guidelines for vaccinated individuals; explains his incentive program to encourage workers to walk away from their enhanced unemployment benefits and return to the work force; talks about the rumors that are circulating that he will run for the US Senate against Maggie Hassan in 2022; and evaluates the current state of the Republican Party, in the aftermath of Liz Cheney being removed from her Congressional leadership post.
Governor Sununu clarifies why there is a difference between the Federal CDC-Centers for Disease Control’s COVID recommendations and those put forward by Dr. Benjamin Chan, state epidemiologist with the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services.
“We focus on what is in New Hampshire’s best interest, what our vaccine rates are, what our dynamics are. The CDC does blanket decisions and recommendations for the entire country. Our recommendations will be more spot on for the needs of the state.”
In the Governor’s opinion, New Hampshire businesses know what is best to keep their workers and customers safe. That is why his administration issued broad best practices for dealing with COVID during this transition period.
New Hampshire’s unemployment rate is only 2.8%. However, due to concerns that many workers have been staying home collecting enhanced unemployment benefits rather than rejoining the work force, Governor Sununu is offering $1,000 for full time and $500 for part time employees to return to work.
There have been many new stories and rumors circulating that Mitch McConnell and several other Republican Senators have been pressuring Governor Sununu to run for Maggie Hassan’s Senate seat. The Governor acknowledged that he has been approached by McConnell and others to run for the Senate in 2022.
“I’m not making any decision on that for a long time. I’m looking forward to being a non-COVID governor. There is so much work to be done, and it’s a job that I absolutely love.”
Governor Sununu believes that the disagreements between Liz Cheney and her supporters and the Donald Trump wing of the Republican Party have been played up by the media. The Governor describes the situation as a schoolyard fight that doesn’t interest him, and he declined to take sides between Liz Cheney and Donald Trump. Governor Sununu considers the media’s coverage to be a distraction.
“The Republican Party is about the folks who elect us. The average Republican wants limited taxes, limited government, local control, and more individual responsibility. That’s the core of the party.”