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Pennsylvania Supreme Court Turns Down Republican Lawmakers' Bid To End Shutdown

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania's high court on Wednesday ruled against an effort by Republican state lawmakers to end Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf's shutdown orders.

A divided court ruled that a resolution passed with mostly GOP votes was a "legal nullity" because it was not sent to Wolf to sign or veto.

Republican majorities in both chambers, along with a few Democrats, voted to end the emergency disaster declaration that has led to closure of "non-life-sustaining" businesses, bans on large gatherings and orders that people stay at home.

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The state constitution grants governors the right to approve or veto concurrent resolutions, but the emergency services law included a provision that gave the Legislature power to end disaster proclamations "at any time."

(Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.)

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