Pennsylvania Republicans have passed Senate Bill 613, calling for the repeal of Governor Wolf’s stay-at-home orders, and allowing millions of Pennsylvanians to return to in-person work. The bill was passed by the State Senate on April 16and presented to Gov. Wolf, who has since remarked that he plans to veto the bill. This comes as Pennsylvania’s unemployment numbers reach record highs, with 1.1 million filing for benefits in the past month – that number accounts for 18% of PA’s registered workforce. Amongst the hardest-hit states, Pennsylvania ranks fifth in COVID-19 case count, although the state acted quickly in early March to shut down non-essential businesses, move schools online and order a stay-at-home protocol.
Senate Bill 613 has gained traction as more and more Pennsylvanians file for unemployment amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Republican Representatives and state senators have called for the reopening of PA’s economy as more states across the country begin creating a plan to benefit jobless citizens. President Trump has expressed his desire to turn the decision over to state officials; PA’s Senate Bill 613 would turn that power over to the individual counties.
The Bill has yet to receive any support from state health officials, with many professionals warning that it could lead to a surge of new cases and a prolonged lasting effect on the state. Nonetheless, Gov. Wolf continues to receive criticism from Republican leaders concerning his definition of “essential businesses” and his continued safety precautions.
Meanwhile, Michigan has received national attention as armed protesters marched on the state capital to demand reopening. Many Americans are echoing the President’s desire to relinquish the power to the states. Gov. Wolf has been meeting with the governors of Rhode Island, New York, Delaware and Connecticut for discussions surrounding the reopening of the economy.
Pennsylvania — with its tourist-reliant cities, sprawling suburbs and remote Rust Belt towns — serves as a smaller model for how this pandemic will affect the country as a whole in the coming months. Many small businesses are eligible to apply for federal relief loans, yet these businesses are projected to face some of the worst effects of the economic fallout. Many of these businesses are receiving federal aid through a paycheck protection program, ensuring the continued payment of employees, yet programs are slow-moving.
In West Chester, the economic toll of the COVID-19 shutdown has become apparent. Lack of parking enforcement revenue has led to a $400-thousand loss in borough revenue. Borough council members have reported to the Daily Local News that police officers may not receive their April paycheck.
Pennsylvanians — and the rest of the country — continue to brace for continued months of unemployment, yet many are leading the rallying cry for a return to normalcy. PA’s diverse work industry will serve as a powerful reference point for other states’ decisions and will likely have a strong effect on the partisan divide over possible solutions. As of Friday, April 17, Gov. Wolf has not lifted the stay-at-home orders, and all shutdowns remain in place.
CJ Fudala is a fourth-year English major. cf865983@wcupa.edu