HARRISBURG – State Senator Doug Mastriano (R-33) voiced concern Wednesday in response to the state Supreme Court’s refusal to uphold the termination of the COVID-19 emergency declaration.
The Supreme Court announced that it was siding with Governor Wolf, who refused to end the emergency declaration when the General Assembly voted in a bipartisan manner to pass House Resolution 836 on June 9th.
“It is deeply disappointing that the court has such little faith in Pennsylvanians to follow simple social distancing guidelines, as well as state and federal safety recommendations,” said Mastriano.
“Unfortunately, this court ruling means that the government will continue to intrude in our lives and the Governor’s flawed mandates will remain in place,” added Mastriano. “I will continue to seek transparency and accountability, because the existing process is not working.”
Even though the General Assembly passed the concurrent resolution June 9th with bipartisan support, Wolf refused to lift the restrictions and took the matter to court.
As part of the court’s ruling, the emergency declaration put in place by Wolf in March – and extended in June for another 90 days – will remain in place. The color-coded system for counties and business operations will remain in place.
“We have offered to work with the Governor to address the flaws in his policies, but our efforts have fallen on deaf ears,” said Mastriano. “There are co-equal branches of government, but right now, we have a dictatorship.”
Mastriano noted that the Senate 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.
The Governor has used the emergency declaration to change and suspend state laws, spend state and federal taxpayer dollars without the approval by lawmakers, and prevent shuttered businesses from reopening with new safety measures in place.
CONTACT: spitzer@pasen.gov.