Governors have a legitimate role to address emergencies when quick action is needed. But the authority vested in them to create rules are not indefinite. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear’s unending and often arbitrary use of emergency powers to combat COVID-19 includes policies that worry entrepreneurs on the future of their businesses. Ted Mitzlaff, who runs Goodwood Brewing Company which has three locations across the state, was one of them.

Governors have a legitimate role to address emergencies when quick action is needed. But the authority vested in them to create rules are not indefinite. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear’s unending and often arbitrary use of emergency powers to combat COVID-19 includes policies that worry entrepreneurs on the future of their businesses. Ted Mitzlaff, who runs Goodwood Brewing Company which has three locations across the state, was one of them.

The constantly changing emergency orders by the governor resulted in small businesses never entirely sure whether they are in full compliance with the law, creating a looming threat of complete shutdown if a business is caught violating orders, regulations, mandates, and directives they didn’t know existed.

The brewery along with other businesses challenged the governor’s continued application of emergency orders which should have expired, taking it all the way to the state supreme court. They are represented by Pacific Legal Foundation, free of charge.