Pennsylvania voters are the first in the country to limit their governor’s emergency powers in response to frustration with the state’s COVID-19 restrictions, according to an ABC News report.
House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff (R-Centre/Mifflin) introduced House Resolution 106 (HR 106) on May 26, which prohibits Gov. Tom Wolf from using a COVID-19 emergency disaster declaration to engage in “no-bid, single-source contracting” or imposing “occupancy limits, business closures, or stay-at-home orders.”
More than 2.1 million ballots were cast, with approximately 53% of voters supporting the proposed amendments.
“Last week, Pennsylvania voters issued a new mandate to their government that they want more checks and balances in the management of emergency disaster periods,” Benninghoff stated, as reported by Gant News. “This resolution is a first step in bringing action to the will of the voters by terminating the most devastating portions of Gov. Wolf’s initial emergency disaster declaration.”
Additionally, HR 106 would extend the suspension of certain regulations in order to increase the efficiency of the state’s medical, infrastructure in caring for COVID-19 and other patients and would reinstate job search requirements that have been temporarily waived by the Department of Labor and Industry.
“We’ve had retired physicians and nurses be able to come back to work temporarily. We can’t have that stop overnight,” Benninghoff said, as reported by WGAL. “There will be a lot of our health care facilities in great need of manpower.”
Benninghoff also claimed the resolution’s passage reflects the public demand for more accountable and rational emergency management.
“Pennsylvania voters wanted more responsible and more reasonable emergency management, and we will continue to provide that while ensuring critical services and funding remain intact,” he said, as reported by Gant News.
Wolf’s decision-making and lack of transparency have been criticized by lawmakers from both parties. Since last summer, the governor has vetoed nine bills from the Legislature that would limit his executive power over pandemic policy.
“The voters gave the Legislature tremendous responsibility,” Wolf’s office stated in response to the proposed amendments and resolution, as reported by WGAL. “The administration stands ready to work with the Legislature.”
The constitutional amendments will take effect after the state verifies the election results, which may occur as early as June.
