Coronavirus In Pennsylvania: House Passes Bill To Reopen Businesses If They Follow Guidelines From CDC
HARRISBURG (AP) -- A Republican proposal to force the governor to adopt new rules that would allow far more businesses to open during the COVID-19 pandemic moved ahead in the Legislature on Tuesday.
The bill would direct Wolf to develop a system based on guidance for businesses from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and on an advisory memo on the topic sent out late last month by the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
Wolf closed businesses deemed not essential to sustaining life about a month ago and subsequently set up a review system for those who wanted permission to reopen.
Members of the House's Republican majority argued that the Wolf administration's approach has been inconsistent, unfair and difficult to understand. They said there are businesses that can safely operate and should.
Democrats countered that loosening the shutdown, in place for about a month, would cause more infections and may overwhelm the health care system.
The House voted to send the proposal to the Senate, 107-95, with every Democrat and two Republicans opposed to it.
Wolf said in a conference call with reporters Tuesday that he would withhold judgment on reopening legislation until he sees details, but he acknowledged there are differences over the best approach.
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