Legislature – 4-10-20

Frustrated with Governor Wolf’s “essential vs. non-essential” business operating directive, House Republicans took a Senate-passed bill this week and added language requiring the state to develop a plan allowing certain businesses to re-open provided that they follow the directives of the Centers for Disease Control. Health Secretary Rachel Levine called the plan “reckless and irresponsible.” The state’s Department of Community and Economic Development has been charged with reviewing appeals from the Governor’ directive and, as of last Friday, had received 42,380 exemption requests, granted 7,183 waivers, denied 14,292, and determined that more than 12,000 actually could operate under the Wolf plan.