The PA House of Representatives passed a bill allowing counties to move a step beyond green phase. A bill passed Tuesday, 116-85, along near-party lines that would allow county leaders to move their counties to a “green plus” phase.
“The major roadblock forcing counties to be unable to economically recover from the effects of COVID-19 has been the governor’s office and its arbitrary mandates,” said Rep. Garth Everett, R-Lycoming County, who sponsored the bill.
“Secretary of Health Rachel Levine admitted this week that our hospitals are ‘not challenged.’ So why are we continuing to present unfair challenges to our mom-and-pop businesses in rural and suburban Pennsylvania that are struggling to stay afloat?”
House Bill 2549 would allow county decision-makers to decide to relieve businesses of COVID-19 restrictions and move into the “green plus” phase when they have been in the green phase for 14 days, have not experienced a significant increase in COVID-19 cases during that time span, believe it is in residents’ best interest; determine there is sufficient medical assets and sufficient testing is available. The bill would empower local communities and decision makers who are on the ground and are more accessible to local businesses to relieve them of COVID-19 restrictions when able.
House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff (R-Centre/Mifflin) is in favor of the bill.
House Democratic Leader Frank Dermody (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) talks about his opposition to the bill.
The bill now goes to the Senate.
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