HARRISBURG – State Senator Doug Mastriano (R-33) voted in support of a concurrent resolution today that would terminate Governor Wolf’s emergency declaration related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As part of House Resolution 836, the emergency declaration put in place by Wolf in March – and recently extended for another 90 days – would be lifted. The resolution would also allow employers across the state to operate safely, and consumers to use their services, without the flawed business waiver process that has been roundly criticized as being arbitrary and unfair.
“It is time to move forward, let our people regain their freedoms and move forward with their lives and businesses, without the government on their backs, and without the government in their wallets,” said Mastriano, who sponsored the Senate version of the legislation.
Mastriano noted that the Senate has passed multiple measures over the past few months that would have allowed Pennsylvania businesses to safely and methodically reopen, as long as strict and specific health and safety protocols were followed. Wolf has vetoed each proposal.
“I continue to hear frustration from local businesses about the Governor’s unilateral decisions, as well as from unemployed Pennsylvanians who are unable to return to work because of the Governor’s ill-advised mandates,” said Mastriano. “It is my hope that lifting the emergency declaration will bring much-needed transparency and collaboration to our co-equal branches of government, as well as restore checks and balances.”
The Governor has used the emergency declaration to change and suspend state laws, spend state and federal taxpayer dollars without the approval of the General Assembly, and prevent shuttered businesses from reopening with new safety measures in place.
Under the Pennsylvania Constitution, the General Assembly has the authority to terminate a state of disaster emergency at any time by concurrent resolution. Upon adoption of the resolution, the Governor must issue an executive order or proclamation ending the state of disaster emergency.
CONTACT: spitzer@pasen.gov.