The Pennsylvania Senate will convene remotely on Wednesday and will consider legislation that will safely re-open the state’s economy following “flawed” government responses to the COVID-19 crisis.
Gov. Tom Wolf ordered the shutdown of all “non-essential” businesses on March 19, which negatively impacted small businesses, manufacturers and employers throughout the state. The waiver process later established through the Department of Community and Economic Development for businesses to petition for essential designation has been called slow and disorganized.
“Throughout the COVID-19 public health emergency, we have endeavored to work together in a bipartisan manner to do what is in the best interest of our Commonwealth,” Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-25) and Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman (R-34) said in a joint statement. “Unfortunately, it has become abundantly clear that the Governor’s waiver process for employers to remain open during this time has been extremely flawed and lacks transparency.”
Scarnati and Corman said that the Senate will look to adopt legislation that will specifically implement a fair and responsible process to re-open businesses throughout Pennsylvania.
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives on Tuesday passed Senate Bill 613, which will be considered by the Senate on Wednesday. SB 613 would require the governor to develop and implement a plan to allow businesses to operate in the Commonwealth during the disaster emergency declaration, provided the business is in compliance. The plan must be developed using mitigation recommendations from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and guidelines from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
Meanwhile, Gov. Wolf announced this week he is working with a multi-state council to restore the economy and reinvigorate jobs. The multi-state council also includes New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont, Delaware Gov. John Carney, Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo, and Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker. The creation of the council seeks to build on the states’ ongoing regional approach to combatting the COVID-19 pandemic and work together to gradually and safely lift the states’ stay at home orders.
“While my administration continues to take critical steps to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, I also recognize that we must look ahead and take a measured, careful approach to prepare for the future while ensuring that we don’t undo all of our efforts,” Wolf said. “Pennsylvania will work collaboratively with our partners both in state and in surrounding states to develop a comprehensive strategy that first focuses on health but also addresses the need to gradually restore our economy.”
Scarnati and Corman, however, argue that a multi-state council is not what will ultimately help Pennsylvania.
“We must keep our communities safe while also helping workers get back to their jobs,” the senators said. “The decisions of how to successfully implement plans to re-open our economy will rest with the legislature of Pennsylvania and not with liberal governors from other states.”