Irvin Issues Statement on Gov. Wolf’s Reopening Process
HARRISBURG – State Rep. Rich Irvin (R-Huntingdon/Centre/Mifflin) issued the following statement following Gov. Tom Wolf’s announcement of which regions and counties would move into the “yellow phase” under his reopening plan.
“I continue to be frustrated by the lack of transparency and consistency in the decisions being made by the governor surrounding the COVID-19 crisis in Pennsylvania. First, everyone was left wondering why some businesses were allowed to operate while others – providing the same or similar products and services – weren’t under his arbitrary waiver system. Now, we are left wondering how exactly he is determining which counties or regions can and cannot start to reopen.
“Millions of people across the state are unemployed and half of those people haven’t even seen a dime of unemployment compensation thus far due to an ill-managed system. Now I am left trying to explain to my constituents and businesses in Huntingdon and Mifflin counties why Centre County can begin to reopen and they can’t.
“The governor, by his actions, is picking winners and losers. He is picking those who can once again start earning a paycheck and those who can’t. He is choosing which businesses have a chance to eventually succeed and which could potentially never reopen again.
“We are all adults who have been given a great deal of information and guidance on how to safeguard ourselves against the disease. We have flattened the curve, case counts continue to decline and people are all ready to start earning a paycheck again and reclaiming our lives.
“Businesses will obviously be following CDC and other federal and state guidelines in order to protect their workers and customers, and we will continue to do all we can to help protect those in our communities who are most vulnerable.
“This week in the House we passed legislation to ramp up testing across the state, which will continue to provide confidence in our ability to track and manage the disease.
“We can manage the disease, while getting back to business – they do not have to be mutually exclusive goals.”
Representative Rich Irvin
81st Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Tricia Lehman
717.772.9840
tlehman@pahousegop.com
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