Pennsylvania Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf is threatening to withhold aid to counties in his state that want to reopen businesses earlier than allowed.
In a lengthy Twitter thread on Monday, Wolf admonished counties seeking to reopen, warning restaurants serving alcohol that they will be issued citations that could lead to the loss of their liquor licenses.
“I won’t sit back and watch residents who live in counties under Stay at Home orders get sick because local leaders cannot see the risks of COVID-19 and push to reopen prematurely. Today I am announcing consequences for counties that do not abide by the law to remain closed,” Wolf said.
“Non-compliant counties won’t be eligible for federal stimulus discretionary funds. Instead, those funds will be allocated to counties working to stop the spread of COVID-19. Dine-in restaurants that open in counties that have not been authorized to reopen will risk receiving a citation. These citations can ultimately lead to the loss of a restaurant’s liquor license,” he continued.
Non-compliant counties won’t be eligible for federal stimulus discretionary funds.
Instead, those funds will be allocated to counties working to stop the spread of #COVID19.
— Governor Tom Wolf (@GovernorTomWolf) May 11, 2020
Businesses should know that opening in counties that don’t abide by the law will potentially jeopardize their business liability insurance or the protections it provides.
— Governor Tom Wolf (@GovernorTomWolf) May 11, 2020
Two Pennsylvania counties, Dauphin and Lebanon, are pushing for their economies to reopen sooner than Wolf’s directives allow. Pennsylvania is using red, yellow, and green color codes for each of its counties to indicate what degrees of economic opening are permitted.
Under Wolf’s order, Lebanon County is considered “red” until June 4 but will push for its own opening on Friday.
“We have heard the pleas of our residents who desire the ability to safely re-open their businesses and safely return to work,” read a letter from the county’s leaders to Wolf. “Lebanon County plans to move forward and will require businesses who are ready to re-open to follow CDC guidelines including requirements such as hand washing, social distancing, and masks until further guidance is received for the county to move to the Green Phase.”
Sheriffs from Cumberland and Perry counties have also said they will not enforce the state’s business shutdown, instead promising to defend constitutional liberties.
