PA Votes To Reopen Businesses: How Norristown Area Reps Responded

NORRISTOWN, PA — Republicans in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed a bill on Tuesday that would lift certain coronavirus mitigation measures in an effort to boost the state's economy, sparking intense blowback from Democrats who decried the health risks.

The state legislature passed the bill, Senate Bill 613, 108 to 94 on Tuesday. It was opposed by all Democrats in the chamber, as well as a few Republicans.

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As Montgomery County has a mostly Democratic delegation to the state house, most local representatives, including all in the Norristown area, voted against the bill.

The bill would allow certain businesses to reopen so long as they followed the health advisories laid out for businesses by the CDC and the federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Specifically, Republicans are targeting the reopening of construction businesses, auto dealers, and real estate offices. They argue that these businesses are open in other states and that Gov. Wolf's shutdown order of nonessential businesses, in place since mid-March, is too restrictive.

"We have to fight the COVID-19 crisis, but we also have to prevent the collapse of Pennsylvania’s economy," House Speaker Mike Turzai wrote in a social media statement earlier this week. "(Gov. Wolf) should work with the legislature to allow citizens to return to safe working environments within the parameters of CDC and Homeland Security guidance so they can put food on the table."

Democrats argue that now is not the time to lift measures, and that prematurely reopening the economy will prolong the crisis and lead to overwhelming the healthcare system.

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"I voted no to SB 613 because it ignores the advice of our proven medical experts AND fails to provide basic protections for the workers who will be prematurely sent back to work," State Rep. Matt Bradford (D-70) said in a statement.

In the Norristown area, here's how other local representatives voted:

• Tim Briggs (D-149): No
• Joe Webster (D-150): No
• Mary Jo Daley (D-148): No
• Pam DeLissio (D-194): No

The Montgomery County representatives who voted yes on the bill included Marcy Toepel (R-147) and Justin Simmons (R-131).

Montgomery County Republicans Thomas Murt (R-152) and Todd Stephens (R-151) were among the few in the GOP to vote no.

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Pennsylvania has seen a reduction in the number of cases and deaths, and hospitals in Montgomery County still have available regular beds and ICU beds. Health experts warn, however, that

"I so understand that people want to get back to work, get back to their families and friends, but we are not there yet," Montgomery County Commissioner Val Arkoosh said Tuesday, addressing both social distancing measures and business closures. "Your personal sacrifice has ensured that our hospitals still have beds, that our first responders can still respond," she added

The state senate is set to vote on the bill Wednesday, and it's expected to pass there. However, Gov. Wolf has declared his staunch disapproval of such measures, and a veto is all but certain.

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Editor's note: a previous version of this story incorrectly stated Rep. Murt's vote. He voted no on the bill.