© 2024 LEHIGHVALLEYNEWS.COM
Your Local News | Allentown, Bethlehem & Easton
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Available On Air Stations
Health & Wellness NewsCOVID-19 News

Pa. Senate votes to end disaster declaration

harrisburg-capitol-building
Russ Walker
/
PA Post
The Capitol in Harrisburg, Pa., on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2020. Russ Walker / PA Post

The Republican-controlled Pennsylvania Senate voted June 10 to end Gov. Tom Wolf’s COVID-19 disaster declaration. The resolution passed the house on June 8, and now goes back to that chamber for a final concurrence vote.

The measure does not require Gov. Wolf’s approval.

The Senate action follows the passage in May of a voter referendum that allows the legislature to unilaterally end disaster declarations.

The resolution was approved along near-party lines with one Democrat joining Republicans voting in favor.

Republicans argue ending the declaration restores a legislative role responding to crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic. 

But Democrats say the move could complicate the state’s ability to respond to a potential resurgence in COVID-19 cases. They also say it jeopardizes access to millions of dollars in federal emergency food aid for the state’s poorest families. 

In a separate vote, the Senate unanimously approved an extension through September of waivers issued by the Wolf administration. Those waivers have allowed government agencies and businesses to circumvent certain state regulations--for example, allowing greater access to telemedicine or giving businesses more time to pay taxes—during the pandemic emergency.