ORLANDO, Fla. — On the same day that Disney Springs began opening stores and restaurants, Vice President Mike Pence was in Orlando on Wednesday.
Pence visited a local nursing home before gathering with tourism leaders to discuss the future of Florida’s hospitality industry.
The Vice President stepped off Air Force Two, welcomed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who greeted the VP with an elbow bump.
The two met for lunch, discussing Florida‘s progress in reopening the state’s economy before heading to a long-term care facility in Orlando.
There, the vice president waved to residents who greeted him with applause and welcome signs. Pence, wearing a surgical mask, symbolically delivered several cases of personal protection equipment.
He also kept a respectable distance from nursing home residents and workers as they snapped pictures and communicated through their cell phones.
Pence then praised Florida as a model for its long-term care facility response.
“For the seniors, for family members who have been willing to adhere to the guidelines that have been issued at the federal and state level we just want to say thank you. Thank you for being a part of the success that you’ve had here in Florida,” said the Vice President. “We grieve for the loss of life here in Florida. We grieve for the loss of more than 90,000 Americans and their families are in our prayers.”
A short time later, Pence traveled to the epicenter of Florida’s tourism industry, meeting with executives from Disney, Sea World, and Universal Studios.
Discussions centered on how to rebound and reopen in a way that gives visitors confidence and ensures safety.
Florida’s hotel operators lost $1.5 billion in April. Tourism tax losses have now topped $700 million.
The vice president assured those in attendance that the federal government would assist in any way it could.
“We’re going to be a full partner with your businesses to give you and Governor DeSantis, your administration, full guidance on how we re-open these great attractions to the American people,” Pence said.
Critics say the vice president's visit was less than bi-partisan. The mayors of Orange County and the city of Orlando, both Democrats, we’re not invited to Wednesday’s discussion, even though re-opening plans must be approved by local authorities.
Still, whatever strategies come out of Orlando, they will impact all Floridians regardless of politics, as 1.5 million tourism-related jobs have been lost since the shutdown began.
The vice president said the administration is also concerned about workers’ safety.
Joining him at Wednesday’s tourism conference were the head of OSHA and the Secretary of Labor.
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