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Gov. Wolf vetoes bill that would have eased COVID-19 restaurant restrictions
Stacy Wescoe//October 16, 2020
Gov. Wolf vetoes bill that would have eased COVID-19 restaurant restrictions
Stacy Wescoe//October 16, 2020//
As he said he would, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf today vetoed a bill that would have rolled back many of the COVID-19 safety restrictions at bars and restaurants that his administration has put into place.
House Bill 2513 would have mostly reverted to the regulations back to those that were originally introduced back in June, when the state entered the green phase of its reopening plan and establishments with liquor licenses were allowed to again have indoor seating.
At that time such establishments were limited to 50% capacity, with social distancing, mask wearing and sanitation requirements.
On July 15, the governor issued new orders after a spike in COVID-19 cases. Those orders tied alcohol sales to food purchases, eliminated bar seating and reduced capacity to 25%. In September he allowed for establishments to return to 50% capacity if they self-certify that they’re in compliance with all regulations.
At that time he also set an 11 p.m. curfew on alcohol sales.
The bill would reverted to June regulations, but included the 11 p.m. curfew.
Wolf said the bill jeopardizes the public health and safety.
“These federal and state mitigation guidelines were established to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19 because of the severity of this pandemic,” Wolf said in a statement. “We have been able to re-open businesses and schools because of the success of our mitigation efforts. If we do not promote health and safety measures that reduce the spread of COVID-19 there will be a resurgence of COVID-19 cases, ending our success and risking our health and our lives.”
He said the risk of spreading the virus in restaurant settings is more significant because of the length of interactions with others, proximity and the inability to utilize prevention tools, like masks, while eating.
The veto may not be the last say, however.
The house voted 145-56 and the senate voting 43-6 in favor of the bill, both of which were veto-proof majorities, should they decide to go that way.
Hospitality industry advocates had previously urged the legislature to vote to override any veto.
