Governor’s June 4 Extension Continues to Fuel Residents’ Uncertainty for the Future, Say Fritz, Peifer and Baker

5/8/2020

WAYNE COUNTY – Sen. Lisa Baker (R-Luzerne/Susquehanna/Wayne/Wyoming) and Reps. Jonathan Fritz (R-Susquehanna/Wayne) and Mike Peifer (R-Pike/Wayne) voiced their displeasure after hearing Wayne County was not included in the next group of counties moving into the “yellow phase” of the governor’s reopening plan on May 15 and the negative impact it will continue to have on area residents and small businesses. The 13 counties listed in the governor’s announcement this afternoon are all located in southwestern Pennsylvania.

The three legislators issued the following statements regarding the governor’s decision to extend Wayne County’s stay-at-home order until June 4:

“Pennsylvanians are worried that there is no path for their future,” said Peifer. “Small businesses are almost at the point of no return as the crisis has crippled them with most of our unemployed residents also experiencing financial ruin. They need to have the opportunity to recover while following all COVID-19 guidelines. Our communities are ready to accept the challenges moving forward and have used the last two months to safely prepare.”

“Our residents are in dire straits with most being out of work or having to close their business,” said Fritz. “To say I am upset with the governor’s decision to extend his order in our rural region is an understatement! The data is not there to warrant ongoing hardship. Pennsylvanians’ financial losses are severe and continue to mount. We need to get back to work now.”

“From closing state institutions to resisting all our compelling arguments to allow for gradual reopening of the local economy, the Wolf administration has again proved blind to the problems of rural communities and deaf to our concerns and advocacy, said Baker. “The negative state actions toward our situation continue to strike area residents as arbitrary and illogical. There is no solution but to keep the pressure on, and we will pursue every possible avenue.”

Representative Mike Peifer
139th Legislative District

Representative Jonathan Fritz
111th Legislative District

PA House of Representatives