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The Republican-controlled Pennsylvania State Legislature on Wednesday passed a House bill that would allow shuttered businesses to reopen if they can follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) social distancing guidelines during the coronavirus pandemic.
The state legislature sent the measure, Senate Bill 613, to Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf (D), in an apparent effort to pressure him to reopen the economy. The legislation, which was approved in the state's Senate along party lines, disregards warnings from the state's health officials, who say such a move is likely to endanger more lives. It is unclear whether Wolf will sign the bill, according to KDKA Radio.
The bill passed the Penn state House 107-95 on Tuesday and the Senate 29-21 on Wednesday. If Wolf takes the advice of Democratic party leaders and vetoes the bill, GOP members in the state do not have enough members to counter his decision. The state's Senate also passed a bill that would allow county leaders authority to decide when to reopen their businesses.
The governor declined to state whether he intends to veto the legislation during his daily coronavirus press briefing on Wednesday. When asked by reporters on Tuesday, he said he would consider it once he receives it.
"If we don't do this right, the economy is going to be in worse shape than it is now," Wolf said.
Newsweek reached out to Wolf's office for comment.
In a statement, the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) condemned the measures. "The Pennsylvania GOP has a storied history of passing irresponsible legislation, but even I'm surprised they've stooped so low," said DLCC President Jessica Post. "Republicans have sent the message loud and clear: they don't care about Pennsylvania families or the lives that will be lost should this legislation become law. The GOP's focus should be on saving lives, not saving the stock market."
Republican Rep. Mike Jones criticized the state's current system that requires businesses to apply for a waiver to operate, calling it "inefficient" and "unfair."
"I think the waiver process has been extremely inefficient. We're concerned it's been very unfair. The problem is it's also not been made public," he told WGAL. "Those are the big three that virtually every other state in the nation, including many of the surrounding states, continue to operate, and it's coming at the expense of our state."
Delaware County Republican Chris Quinn echoed his remarks. "Every business in Pennsylvania needs a clear understanding of what is necessary to once again open its doors," Quinn said in a statement. "Waivers are being granted in a random fashion and two like businesses have no idea why one can remain open and the other must shutter its doors."
