Quinn Encourages Governor to Allow More Transparency
HARRISBURG – Rep. Chris Quinn (R-Delaware) is urging Gov. Tom Wolf to sign a House bill that would increase governmental transparency during the current public health crisis.
Wolf has recently stated publicly that he is considering vetoing
House Bill 2463, which would require state agencies to answer right-to-know requests during the state’s disaster declaration. The bill passed both the House and Senate unanimously.
“If Gov. Wolf vetoes this legislation, he will be on island in opposition to providing the public with more information and transparency during a public crisis,” Quinn said. “At a time of unprecedented governmental responses, we need more openness and transparency not less.”
At the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, Wolf suspended responses to the Right-to-Know law. He has publicly stated that his opposition to the bill is that it would force the disclosure of sensitive information, such as ongoing investigations or health records. The bill was amended prior to its passage to exclude any of that information from becoming public record.
“The reasons for vetoing this bill are rapidly vanishing and yet the governor is maintaining his position,” Quinn said. “This raises real questions about what he is afraid the public may find out about the crisis and the governmental response. It is truly telling that legislators that have backed up his decisions to keep businesses closed and the disaster declaration in place have also supported this transparency bill. They agree that the public has a right to information, and it is time the governor come to this realization as well.”
Throughout the pandemic, the state Legislature and local governments and school districts have continued to respond to right-to-know requests.
Representative Chris Quinn
168th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Rene Morrow
717.260.6273
rmorrow@pahousegop.com
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