461 Montgomery Co. Businesses Got Coronavirus Shutdown Exemptions

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PA — Pennsylvania officials have released the full list of the more than 6,000 businesses that were granted an exemption to remain in operation during the coronavirus shutdowns. In Montgomery County, 461 businesses received exemptions to the governor's March 19order that closed all of the state's non-essential businesses.

The list includes a broad array of businesses, including athletic supply companies, acupuncture clinics, florists, kitchen and bath designers, a scuba gear shop, and many more. You can see the full list here.

The closures were made in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus, which has now killed more than 3,700 Pennsylvania residents. However, businesses could apply for an exemption to remain open.

According to the Department of Community and Economic Development, nearly 43,000 businesses requested exemptions. Just over 6,100 of those businesses received exemptions. Life sustaining businesses like grocery stores, pharmacies, and gas stations were permitted to remain open without an exemption.

The waiver process has recently come under fire from both politicians and business owners.

The state's Auditor General announced late last month he'd conduct an audit of the process after receiving complaints it was slow and not transparent.

In a court filing, Republicans are seeking enforcement of the state Senate's subpoena seeking access to records connected to the exemptions. Republican leaders say the measure is needed to "correct inequities, both as part of the ongoing pandemic as well as for any future emergencies."

According to the filing, the state Supreme Court "has consistently recognized that the legislative branch's power to investigate is an essential corollary of the power to legislate. The scope of this power of inquiry extends to every proper subject of legislative action."

Gov. Tom Wolf "agrees that performing this audit is both appropriate and necessary,"Auditor General Eugene DePasquale said. The Department of Community and Economic Development has pledged full cooperation, he added.

"We have made the waiver process as public as we know how," Gov. Wolf said Tuesday, adding "we don't agree" with the GOP subpoena.

See here for all businesses granted an exemption.