Gov. Tom Wolf | governor.pa.gov/
Gov. Tom Wolf | governor.pa.gov/
Gov. Tom Wolf signed his latest 90-day statewide emergency declaration for COVID-19. House Republicans question why this was done without legislative input.
Pennsylvania House Republicans voiced their concern on Twitter.
“Gov. Wolf renewed the COVID emergency declaration for the 4th time yesterday. Should he be the ONLY one to decide on this matter?”
In his statement, Wolf said that the “renewal will allow the commonwealth to maintain its response and support efforts as we continue testing, contact tracing and vaccination efforts to keep Pennsylvanians safe.”
“COVID-19 vaccinations have begun, but we are still in the early stages of vaccine administration,” the governor said. “We will continue to prioritize a safe, efficient and equitable distribution process, and expect vaccinations to increase as the federal government makes more vaccine available to states.”
Republicans have earlier proposed a constitutional amendment limiting the governor’s emergency declaration to 21 days unless extended by the legislature and prohibiting a governor from issuing any additional declarations on the same matter without the legislature’s approval.
Pennsylvania voters will get to vote on it after the state House on Friday approved legislation that sent it to a statewide referendum in May, The Pocono Record reported.
Alerts Sign-up