Quinn Votes for Bill to Provide Clarity for Businesses to Reopen
HARRISBURG – Rep. Chris Quinn (R-Delaware) voted for
Senate Bill 613 on Tuesday, which would provide clear reopening instructions for businesses and clean up the confusion created by the current waiver process for non-essential businesses.
The bill requires the governor to create guidelines in line with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations for exposure mitigation. The guidelines must also conform to the advisory memorandum on identification of essential critical infrastructure workers during the COVID-19 response, as published by the United States Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
“Every business in Pennsylvania needs a clear understanding of what is necessary to once again open its doors,” Quinn said. “Unfortunately, clarity has been missing from the current system being conducted by Gov. Tom Wolf. Waivers are being granted in a random fashion and two like businesses have no idea why one can remain open and the other must shutter its doors. The current system creates confusion, and confusion in crisis is something we must avoid.”
“The process outlined in the legislation I supported today gives businesses clear standards that they must meet in order to be open. These measures would ensure the safety and protection of employees and the public at large.”
Wolf’s current waiver process has been scrutinized for a lack of transparency, something Quinn said would be solved by Senate Bill 613.
“Other legislators and I have asked the governor to make the list of waiver applicants and the status of those waivers public, but he has refused,” Quinn said. “This bill would allow every business owner in Pennsylvania to know exactly what is necessary to remain open. This is the best balance we can strike between safety and economics.”
Representative Chris Quinn
168th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives