NEW: Unlike his predecessor, President Biden is seeking to bring Republican & Democrat-led states into the fold as he tries to reorganize the haphazard Trump approach by expanding vaccination reach & eventually controlling the virus. by @TinaSfon ($) businessinsider.com/joe-biden-covi…
That means reaching out to GOP governors, including those who strongly opposed his election. While Biden and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum probably won't see eye-to-eye on most policy issues, a spokesperson told Insider their teams are talking.
Staffers in the Wyoming GOP governor's offices told Insider that Biden also reached out to their administration even before taking office. Biden's team has also talked with officials in Missouri, according to The Kansas City Star.
Staffers in Democratic-led states say they're ecstatic to see Biden put in place a nationwide plan after months of disarray on the federal level under Trump.
"I have never been so happy to sit down and read a 200-page government report about how to comprehensively approach one of the most serious crises the nation has faced this century," Anne Caprara, chief of staff to Illinois Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker told @Politicsinsider
"Everything about the Biden administration's approach to fighting the pandemic has brought me hope after a long and terrible year," Caprara added.
National Governors Association spokesman James Nash said the organization is in regular contact with the Biden administration, including holding calls with governors of both parties and officials such as National Economic Council Director Brian Deese.
The NGA, which is made up of the heads of all 50 states and US territories, is also in touch with the administration about the distribution of the vaccines just as it had been with federal agencies during the Trump administration.
"The main difference is that the Biden administration is new, so newly appointed officials are eager to engage with governors on the leading issues in the states and territories, including vaccine distribution and economic recovery," Nash told Insider.
Biden's plan includes EOs that aim to increase mask-wearing, speed up vaccine distribution and tighten international travel restrictions. Biden also has a plan to try to safely reopen most K-8 schools, with a proposed relief package of $130 billion.
Even before taking office — and while dealing with a Trump administration that was blocking transition efforts — Biden had already started laying the groundwork for his outreach to both blue and red states.
On a Nov. call with governors, including several Rs, Biden said his team would follow up & coordinate "on the issues coming out of the call." That was an early effort to try to maintain communication w/ governors who in 2020 were often going it alone in their states' responses.
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