Pa. lawmakers take first steps to end parts of governor's COVID-19 disaster declaration
WGAL News 8
Updated: 12:33 PM EDT May 25, 2021
WGAL News 8
Updated: 12:33 PM EDT May 25, 2021
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TO THIS COMES AFTER THE VOTE BY THE VOTERS ON AMENDMENTS AT THAT GIVE LAWMAKERS MORE INPUT ON DISASTER DECLARATIONS, LIKE THE ONE THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS HAD IN PLACE FOR COVID-19. TODAY, THEY ADVANCED A RESOLUTION TO ROLLBACK PARTS OF THAT DECLARATION. THEY STATE GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE IN THE HOUSE TODAY ADVANCED A RESOLUTION THAT IS NOT TOTALLY ROLL BACK THE DECLARATION, AND SOME SAY THEY WANTED TO DO THE ENTIRE THING AS PART OF THIS REVOLUTION -- RESOLUTION, BUT THE HOUSE LEADER SAID THINGS LIKE TELEMEDICINE NEED TO REMAIN SUSPENDED FOR NOW. >> WE HAVE HAD RETIRED PHYSICIANS ABLE TO COME BACK TO WORK TEMPORARILY. WE CANNOT HAVE THAT STOP OVERNIGHT. MANY OF OUR HEALTH CARE FACILITIES ARE IN GREAT NEED OF MANPOWER. TOM: THAT RESOLUTION, IF PASSED, WOULD MODIFY THE WORK SEARCH FOR UNEMPLOYMENT, AND IT WILL ROLLBACK PURCHASING AND CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS FROM THE STATE. IT WOULD STRIKE THE PORTION OF THE DISASTER DECLARATION SETTING MAXIMUM OCCUPANCY LIMITS, SOMETHING THAT THE GOVERNOR JUSTICE HOUR SAID HE IS TAKING ISSUE WITH. HE SAYS THE RESOLUTION WOULD NOT ALLOW OR WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO ROLL THOSE RESTRICTIONS BACK AND THEY ARE COVERED UNDER A SEPARATE LAW. THERE SEEMS TO BE DEBATE BETWEEN THE GOVERNOR AND LAWMAKERS ON WHETHER THIS RESOLUTION CAN DO THAT. HE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT T