HARRISBURG –
Statement from Senator Mastriano:
“On May 18th, Pennsylvanians made their voices heard to limit the Governor’s disaster emergency declaration powers. Never again shall a Governor have unilateral power to mandate edicts without the input of the General Assembly. The power has been returned to the people.
What started out as “two weeks to flatten the curve” turned into a year of shuttered small businesses, closed schools, and social isolation.
The Governor’s measures granted to him through the emergency declaration widened the gap between the haves and the have nots in our Commonwealth. Big corporations were never forced to shut down and instead profited off the closure of their competition. Many high-earning white-collar workers were able to retain their jobs and adjust to a telework environment. Wealthy parents were able to place their children in private schools or hire tutors. Under Wolf’s powers, the rich became richer and the poor, poorer.
Meanwhile, we see the many empty storefronts in our communities that used to be home to small businesses. Students from low income households, some without the means of high-speed internet, fell behind their peers in the world of virtual classrooms.
Pennsylvania is the birthplace of freedom. It was in Independence Hall in Philadelphia where our Founding Fathers gathered to debate and sign the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution – two of the greatest political documents ever written.
It’s fitting that voters here in Pennsylvania are the first in the nation to curb a governor’s emergency powers.
Today, I was proud to vote “YES” to terminate the Emergency Declaration. Walk as free people!”
CONTACT: Josh Herman (jherman@pasen.gov)