The House Republican leadership team issued the following statement in response to the state Supreme Court’s ruling on Scarnati v. Wolf, a ruling that strikes down the bipartisan vote to end the ongoing emergency declaration:
“Pennsylvanians have made it clear; they will not sit idly by while one person makes every decision regarding COVID-19. Throughout this event, Gov. Tom Wolf has refused to engage with the General Assembly, the elected voices of our Commonwealth’s residents, regardless of the implications of his decision.
“Whether it’s an arbitrary shutdown order that benefits certain businesses while leaving more than 2 million Pennsylvanians relying on a broken unemployment compensation system, neglecting our most vulnerable nursing home residents, or vetoing bills to restart the economy, only to issue executive orders that accomplish the same goals minutes later, the governor must be held accountable by the Legislature, as is required by our Constitution.
“Today’s ruling, which comes just moments after another unenforceable, unilateral mask order, sends a message to all Pennsylvanians: The governor and the Supreme Court do not want to hear from you.
“The House Republican leadership team and our members will continue to work in the House to find a path to helping all Pennsylvanians rebuild and recover from the governor’s decisions.”
The House Republican leadership team is Speaker Bryan Cutler (Lancaster), Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff (Centre/Mifflin), Appropriations Committee Chairman Stan Saylor (York), Majority Whip Donna Oberlander (Clarion/Armstrong/Forest), Policy Committee Chair Marin Causer (Cameron/McKean/Potter), Caucus Chair Marcy Toepel (Montgomery), Caucus Secretary Mike Reese (Westmoreland/Somerset) and Caucus Administrator Kurt Masser (Northumberland/Columbia/Montour).
