MassFiscal Statement on Bars Being Placed into Phase Four

The Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance made the following statement today on recent news that Governor Charlie Baker quietly moved bars into phase four of his state’s four step phased re-opening plan. Since the beginning of the phases, bars were considered as part of phase three. Phase four businesses can only re-open if there is a vaccine or treatment for COVID19. With no guarantee of discovering a successful treatment or vaccine phase four is tantamount to an indefinite closure order.

“The Governor’s phased re-opening plan is taking a cruel turn in recent days, which will result in more small businesses being ‘phased out’ of existence. This development is alarming as much as it is disturbing. Over the weekend, the Governor created ‘parts’ to his phases, which will negatively impact many businesses across the state and leave them hopeless. The criteria for parts are unclear and they were never disclosed during the original phased re-opening plan,” stated Paul D. Craney, spokesperson for Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance.

“Now we learn the Governor is also quietly cherry-picking industries and without explanation, placing them into phase four, which there is no guarantee Massachusetts will ever achieve. The Governor is moving the goal post once again demonstrating he does not have the confidence in Massachusetts small business owners, their workers, and customers,” concluded Craney.