Legislation would add transparency to reopening of economy

The House recently passed legislation that would require Gov. Tom Wolf to notify House and Senate leaders of any regulations that are modified, suspended, or waived during the COVID-19 emergency declaration.

“There are reports from around the state of competing businesses from the same geographic area not receiving the same answer when applying for a waiver from the governor’s business closure order,” Rep. Andrew Lewis (R-Dauphin), prime sponsor of the bill, said. “Government should not be arbitrarily picking winners and losers in the midst of this crisis or ever, and the public deserves to know why and to whom these waivers were granted.”

Wolf’s decisions have been cloaked in secrecy, Lewis said, instead of being public and transparent.

“The governor has refused to reveal to his constituents the list of who applied for waivers and who was approved, in addition to refusing to discuss the rationale or measuring stick used in his decision making,” Rep. Frank Ryan (R-Lebanon), the first House member to co-sponsor the bill, said. “That is his choice. Is it a good one? We feel he has an obligation to taxpayers who are directly and financially impacted by who is allowed to stay open for business and who is not.”

The bill moves to the Senate for consideration.