Governor <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/tom-wolf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tom Wolf</a> (D-PA) renewed a push to greenlight $2,000 <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/stimulus" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stimulus checks</a> for <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/pennsylvania" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pennsylvanians</a> earning $80,000 or less.
Wolf argued during a Monday <a href="https://www.wtae.com/article/pennsylvania-2000-dollar-direct-payments-gov-wolf/41018907#">event</a> in Sharpsburg, Pennsylvania, that the “Pennsylvania Opportunity Program” will help families cope with surging inflation. The initiative would <a href="https://www.governor.pa.gov/newsroom/wolf-administration-continues-push-for-2000-direct-payments-to-pennsylvanians-as-prices-soar/">cost</a> $500 million and draw funds from the state’s $15 billion budget surplus.
&#8220;We can actually help families get lifesaving medicine out of state funds. We can help families stay in their homes,” Wolf said. “We can help families afford to eat. Why on earth wouldn&#8217;t we do it? Especially now, again, when we have the money sitting in the bank.”
Pennsylvania Republicans, who control both chambers of the state legislature, have spurned the proposal over concerns of inducing additional inflation — a claim Wolf rejects.
&#8220;It&#8217;s just mind-boggling, the sense that giving somebody who is trying to put food on the table or pay the rent, that that is somehow inflationary, when how many trillions of dollars did we give away to the very wealthy during the Trump years in tax breaks?&#8221; he continued.
Other Democratic governors have proposed various stimulus measures as living expenses remain elevated. According to the <a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm">Bureau of Labor Statistics</a>, year-over-year inflation reached 8.5% in July 2022, with a slight moderation from the 9.1% reading in the previous month <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/white-house-starts-victory-lap-amid-slightly-less-dismal-inflation-reading">driven</a> by lower energy prices — even as costs for food, new vehicles, medical care, and shelter continue to rise.
Governor Gavin Newsom (D-CA) recently <a href="https://www.gov.ca.gov/2022/06/30/governor-newsom-signs-budget-putting-money-back-in-californians-pockets-and-investing-in-states-future/">signed</a> a $308 billion state budget that includes $1.95 billion in emergency rental assistance, $1.4 billion to help citizens pay utility bills, and $9.5 billion for tax refunds of up to $1,050 per household for many Californians. As fuel prices soared in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Newsom <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/newsom-pushes-400-gas-price-relief-payments-as-california-fuel-prices-reach-record-levels">proposed</a> an $11 billion plan to send $400 stimulus checks to Californians for each registered vehicle.
“We’re taking immediate action to get money directly into the pockets of Californians who are facing higher gas prices as a direct result of Putin’s invasion of Ukraine,” Newsom said in a statement. “But this package is also focused on protecting people from volatile gas prices, and advancing clean transportation — providing three months of free public transportation, fast-tracking electric vehicle incentives and charging stations, and new funding for local biking and walking projects.”
After the federal government passed multiple rounds of stimulus checks in reaction to COVID and nationwide lockdowns, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/bidenomics-how-inflation-got-out-of-control">evidence</a> that the payments contributed to inflation has continued to mount. Enhanced weekly unemployment benefits of $300 per person — passed under President Donald Trump and extended under President Joe Biden — lasted in many states through September 2021, while other states opted out of the program in the interest of fostering a recovery in their labor markets. Indeed, economists Harry Holzer, Glenn Hubbard, and Michael Strain <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/surprise-enhanced-unemployment-benefits-significantly-increased-unemployment-study">said</a> in a recent paper that states which prematurely nixed the benefits saw “the flow of unemployed workers into employment increase by around two-thirds.”
Biden has instead pinned rising inflation on <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-says-exxon-made-more-money-than-god-this-year-blames-them-for-gas-price-spike">corporate price gouging</a> and “<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/president-biden-blames-vladimir-putin-for-record-high-inflation">Putin’s Price Hike</a>.” As year-over-year inflation reached its highest levels in June, the commander-in-chief <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-claims-inflation-is-worse-everywhere-but-here-thats-not-even-close-to-true">falsely claimed</a> that rising price levels are “worse everywhere but here” — though developed nations such as Germany, the United Kingdom, Canada, South Korea, and Japan had been experiencing lower inflation than the United States.

Tom Wolf

Pennsylvania Governor Calls For More Stimulus Checks, Says It’s ‘Mind-Boggling’ Anyone Would Worry About More Inflation

Pennsylvania Governor Calls For Stimulus Checks

Economy

Pennsylvania

Stimulus Checks

<a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/pennsylvania">Pennsylvania</a> banned the use of private dollars to run <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/2022-election">elections</a> last week after Governor <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/tom-wolf">Tom Wolf</a> (D-PA) signed legislation from the Republican-led legislature.
<a href="https://www.legis.state.pa.us/CFDOCS/Legis/PN/Public/btCheck.cfm?txtType=PDF&amp;sessYr=2021&amp;sessInd=0&amp;billBody=S&amp;billTyp=B&amp;billNbr=0982&amp;pn=1856">SB 982</a> — sponsored by State Sen. Lisa Baker, a Republican who chairs the Pennsylvania Senate Judiciary Committee — prohibits officials from seeking funds from any nongovernmental entity for “the registration of voters or the preparation, administration or conducting of an election,” and creates an “election integrity grant program” by which the commonwealth government can help counties administer elections.
During the 2020 election cycle, the Center for Technology and Civic Life — a nonprofit backed by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg — distributed $25 million to county governments in Pennsylvania for the purpose of running elections, according to the <a href="https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-state/2022/04/05/pennsylvania-gop-lawmakers-aim-stop-outside-funding-state-administration-elections/stories/202204050123">Pittsburgh Post-Gazette</a>. Philadelphia County received more than $10.5 million from the Zuckerberg-funded nonprofit, while Allegheny County — the location of Pittsburgh, the commonwealth’s second-largest city — received over $2 million.
Roughly 22 states have banned “Zuck Bucks,” according to the <a href="https://capitalresearch.org/article/states-banning-zuck-bucks/">Capital Research Center</a>, while other states are presently debating bans. The IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/charitable-organizations/the-restriction-of-political-campaign-intervention-by-section-501c3-tax-exempt-organizations">does not allow</a> 501(c)(3) nonprofits to engage in “voter education or registration activities” that “have the effect of favoring a candidate.”
“We believe reform begins with prohibiting private groups from funding election administration. Voting is among our basic rights, and the responsibility for properly running and funding elections is vested in government,” Baker said in an interview with <a href="https://thefederalist.com/2022/07/14/pennsylvania-outlaws-zuckbucks-ahead-of-midterm-elections/">The Federalist</a>. “No matter who on the outside is contributing, no matter their expressed motivations, millions of dollars coming in from national figures or organizations naturally raises suspicions of hidden agendas.”
According to the <a href="https://capitalresearch.org/article/zuckerbergs-return-on-investment-in-pennsylvania/">Capital Research Center</a>, grant funding provided by the Center for Technology and Civic Life has been distributed in an overtly partisan manner. The organization funded 85% of the counties won by President Joe Biden in the 2020 election, meaning that a Biden-winning county was over three times more likely to be funded than a Trump-winning county.
The Foundation for Government Accountability, a nonpartisan think tank, was among the groups which lauded the new law. “The Pennsylvania House and Senate have made huge strides with the passage of SB 982 by protecting state elections through their support of commonsense election reforms,” CEO Tarren Bragdon said in a <a href="https://thefga.org/press/fga-applauds-pennsylvania-leaders-banning-third-party-funding-elections/">press release</a>. “Senator Baker’s bill will greatly increase transparency and trust in the Keystone State’s democratic process.”
Pennsylvania — which President Joe Biden <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-elections/pennsylvania-results">won</a> by a slim 82,000 votes — is among the most closely watched midterm elections, especially as Democrats seek to retain control of the divided U.S. Senate.
Dr. Mehmet Oz, a celebrity cardiologist and Republican nominee, raised more than $19 million between March 17, 2021, and June 30, 2022, according to <a href="https://www.fec.gov/data/candidate/S2PA00638/?tab=raising#total-receipts">filings</a> with the U.S. Federal Elections Commission. Although Lt. Governor John Fetterman — the former mayor of Braddock, Pennsylvania, and the commonwealth’s Democratic nominee — has not yet reported his second-quarter fundraising to the agency, his campaign told the <a href="https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-state/2022/07/12/john-fetterman-11-million-campaign-contribution-pennsylvania-senate-race-democrat-mehmet-oz/stories/202207120071">Pittsburgh Post-Gazette</a> that he had raised $11 million between April and June.
Though Fetterman has been <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/07/14/fetterman-stroke-senate/">largely absent</a> from the campaign trail due to a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/hell-be-fine-pa-democratic-senate-nominee-cleared-by-doctor-to-campaign-after-suffering-a-stroke-days-before-primary">stroke</a> he suffered days before the primary election in May, he still <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/early-midterm-poll-has-dire-news-for-pennsylvania-republicans">boasts</a> 46% of the vote against Oz’s 37%, according to a USA Today Network and Suffolk University poll released last month. A more recent <a href="https://www.aarp.org/content/dam/aarp/research/surveys_statistics/politics/2022/aarp-pennsylvania-2022-elections-voter-survey.doi.10.26419-2Fres.00550.003.pdf">poll</a> of voters 50 years old and above from AARP shows Oz with 46% and Fetterman with 49%, although 23% of respondents remain “persuadable.”

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf Visits COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic At Reading Area Community College

Pennsylvania Bans ‘Zuck Bucks’ As Midterm Elections Approach

Pennsylvania Bans 'Zuck Bucks' After Democratic Governor Signs Bill

2022 Midterms

Mark Zuckerberg

On Tuesday, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives voted to ban biological males from competing in female sports, but the Democratic governor, who called the bill “transphobic,”  threatened that if the legislation passed, “It won’t pass my desk.”
House Bill 972, titled the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act, passed in the House by a vote of 115-84 and now heads for the state Senate, where SB 1191, similar in intent, is being considered.
KB 972 <a href="https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/PN/Public/btCheck.cfm?txtType=HTM&amp;sessYr=2021&amp;sessInd=0&amp;billBody=H&amp;billTyp=B&amp;billNbr=0972&amp;pn=2886">states</a>:
<blockquote>Providing for sports activities in public institutions of higher education and public school entities to be expressly designated male, female or coed; and creating causes of action for harms suffered by designation. &#8230; Athletic teams for sports designated for females, women or girls under subsection (a) (2) may not be open to students of the male sex. &#8230; 
A student who is deprived of an athletic opportunity or who suffers a direct or indirect harm as a result of a known violation of section 3 may bring a cause of action for injunctive relief, damages, psychological, emotional and physical harm suffered, attorney fees and costs and any other relief available under the law against the school or institution of higher education. &#8230; 
A person may not bring a civil action under this section later than two years after the day on which the harm underlying the cause of action occurs.</blockquote>
Democrat Governor Tom Wolf railed against the bill on Tuesday, tweeting, &#8220;As states across the country push transphobic legislation, some Republicans in the General Assembly are wasting time attempting the same in Pennsylvania. It won&#8217;t get past my desk.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
As states across the country push transphobic legislation, some Republicans in the General Assembly are wasting time attempting the same in Pennsylvania.
It won&#39;t get past my desk.
Let&#39;s enhance protections for LGBTQ+ Pennsylvanians instead. Send me the bipartisan Fairness Act. <a href="https://t.co/Srj8JBsJwn">pic.twitter.com/Srj8JBsJwn</a>
&mdash; Governor Josh Shapiro (@GovernorShapiro) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovernorShapiro/status/1513955114003963909?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 12, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
“Wolf instead called for the state legislature to pass <a href="https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2021&amp;sind=0&amp;body=H&amp;type=B&amp;bn=0300">House Bill 300</a>, known as the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act or Fairness Act, which would amend the state&#8217;s 1955 Human Relations Act to include protect residents in the state from being discriminated against based on ‘sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression,’” <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/pennsylvania-house-passes-bill-transgender-females-sports">Fox News</a> reported.
But the bill’s chief sponsor, Republican state Rep. Barbara Gleim, who cited University of Pennsylvanian swimmer Lia Thomas, the biological man who recently won the 500-yard freestyle at the NCAA Women&#8217;s championships, <a href="https://www.dailyitem.com/cnhi_network/state-house-passes-bill-designating-sports-by-sex/article_0a8a8130-7942-5b2b-b41e-12ff70052421.html">stated bluntly</a>, “Women lose out on a fair playing field when forced to compete against biological men.”
Wolf has <a href="https://www.governor.pa.gov/newsroom/gov-wolf-issues-statement-on-hate-targeting-transgender-pennsylvanians/">stated</a> of Rachel Levine, the biological man who serves as the United States assistant secretary for Health and Human Services, “Dr. Levine is a distinguished and accomplished public servant. She is committed to keeping Pennsylvanians safe and healthy, even those who direct hate-fueled attacks at her. I’m proud of the work she has done in her five years serving Pennsylvanians, and her success at leading our commonwealth during the COVID-19 crisis is a testament to her intelligence and work ethic.”

‘Transphobic … Won’t Pass My Desk’: Dem PA Gov. Attacks Bill Passed That Bars Men In Women’s Sports

Transgender Athletes

Pennsylvania&#8217;s Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine claimed Thursday that state residents might have to get used to wearing masks for another year.
Despite promising results for COVID-19 vaccines from pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and Moderna, Levine cited the need to ration them in three phases as a reason for extended preventative measures, according to <a href="https://www.pennlive.com/news/2020/11/covid-19-vaccine-may-reach-pa-next-month-but-we-could-be-wearing-masks-for-all-of-2021.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Penn Live</a>.
The first phase includes &#8220;front-line health care workers, first responders, the elderly and people living in group health care settings,&#8221; Penn Live reported, followed by a second phase for &#8220;high-risk people&#8221; not in the first phase, with the third phase encompassing the general public.
“We anticipate we’re going to be rolling this out through the winter and then into the spring and into the summer,” Levine told Penn Live. “It could take a significant amount of time to immunize everyone in Pennsylvania. I anticipate we’re going to be wearing masks well into 2021, maybe to the end of 2021.”
Following Levine&#8217;s advice, Democratic Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf earlier this week instituted an onerous mask mandate in his state that demands Pennsylvanians cover their faces even in their own homes.
As The Daily Wire <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/democrat-governors-new-covid-rule-masks-even-in-your-own-home" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">reported</a>:
<blockquote>On Tuesday, the administration of Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf announced a new coronavirus-related crackdown on the citizens of Pennsylvania, which includes a mask mandate for people inside their own homes.
At the behest of Dr. Rachel L. Levine, the Secretary of Health for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, citizens are going to be mandated to mask-up in their homes if people outside of their household are inside.
“Strengthening masking order,” the department posted via Twitter. “Masks are still required. Indoors: masks now required anytime you’re with people outside of your household, even if you’re socially distant. Applies to all indoor facilities + if you have people in your home not part of your household.”</blockquote>
Levine&#8217;s prediction about wearing masks to the end of next year has been echoed by Dr. Anthony Fauci, who predicted that such measures would be necessary into 2022.
As The Daily Wire <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fauci-floats-masks-and-social-distancing-into-2022-even-with-vaccine" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">reported</a>:
<blockquote>“It’s not going to be the way it was with polio and measles, where you get a vaccine, case closed, it’s done,” Fauci said. “It’s going to be public-health measures that linger for months and months.”
“You’re not going to have a profound degree of herd immunity for a considerable period of time, maybe toward the end of 2021, into 2022,” Fauci continued. “I feel very strongly that we’re going to need to have some degree of public-health measures to continue. Maybe not as stringent as they are right now.”
Fauci drew a distinction between lockdown measures, which he has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fauci-i-dont-think-we-need-to-go-to-lockdown-again" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">said</a> he does not believe will have to be implemented again, and preventative measures such as masks and social distancing.
“You can do this without shutting down the country. There’s a misunderstanding,” he said. “You can cautiously and prudently continue to try to open up the country and open the economy.”</blockquote>
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/outrageous-pa-health-secretary-reportedly-cut-secret-deal-with-car-show-to-bypass-covid-19-restrictions" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">‘Outrageous’: PA Health Secretary Reportedly Cut Secret Deal With Car Show To Bypass COVID-19 Restrictions</a>

Rachel Levine

PA Health Secretary Predicts Masks ‘Maybe To The End Of 2021’

COVID

Elected officials in Pennsylvania are warning voters not to expect final election results out of the critical swing state for several days after the election.
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf and Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney, both Democrats, are urging Pennsylvanians to be patient with election results. Mail-in ballots have reached historic numbers this election cycle, and some time after the polls close on Tuesday may be required before all votes can be accounted for.
Wolf is urging patience in an ad made through the voter advocacy group The Voter Project. The ad is set to begin airing on the afternoon of Election Day and run until all ballots have been counted for the final time, according to <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/02/politics/tom-wolf-election-results-pennsylvania/index.html">CNN</a>.
“These are unprecedented times. Because of the coronavirus, there were millions of votes cast by mail so it may take longer than usual to count every vote. The folks in our election offices — your neighbors, family, and friends are working hard ensuring every single vote is counted,” Wolf reportedly says in the ad.
“So it may take a little longer than we’re used to, even a few days, but that’s okay,” Wolf says, “because it’s critical that your vote is counted – and it will be.”
Kenney warned Philadelphia residents in an <a href="https://www.phila.gov/2020-11-02-an-open-letter-to-philadelphians-about-our-citys-election/">open letter</a> published online on Monday that the flood of mail-in ballots could delay results for “several days”:
<blockquote>After the polls close, and in the ensuing days, we will continue to need your patience. Never in the history of this city have so many people voted by mail. By law, staffers are not allowed to start opening and counting these ballots until Election Day itself.
That means getting a tally of mail-in ballots will easily take several days. This may determine the outcome in Philadelphia, and in the Commonwealth as a whole. So, again, please be patient.
Patience brings calm. We know all Philadelphians have been through a difficult year, and you know the importance of this election. So we close this letter with one last ask: if you should encounter frustrating or difficult situations on Election Day, let your inner strength guide you. Stay calm, stay respectful, stay above the fray.</blockquote>
In mid-October, the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/roberts-sides-with-liberals-scotus-allows-pa-to-accept-ballots-three-days-late">Supreme Court</a> split 4-4 on whether to count mail-in ballots in Pennsylvania that arrive after election day. In a lower court ruling issued by the state supreme court, Democrats scored a victory and election officials were told to count ballots that are received up to three days after the election takes place. The Supreme Court split left the lower court ruling in place.
Chief Justice John Roberts had sided with the high court’s liberal bloc to stalemate the vote. The state GOP, who pushed to overturn the state Supreme Court’s ruling, argued that the delay in official results resulting from the ruling could undermine Americans’ confidence in the election.
“In a year where there is a very real possibility that the final presidential election result hinges on Pennsylvania, the new rules imposed by the decision of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania (a body elected in partisan elections) could destroy the American public’s confidence in the electoral system as a whole,” the Pennsylvania GOP argued in a brief.

PA Governor, Philly Mayor Warn Vote Tally Could Take Days

2020 Election

Philadelphia

Nancy Pelosi

‘A Slap In The Face’: 10 Times Democrat Politicians Blew Off Their Own Coronavirus Restrictions

Andrew Cuomo

Bill de Blasio

Democratic Party

Gretchen Whitmer

J.B. Pritzker

Lori Lightfoot

Muriel Bowser

Ralph Northam

Democratic Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf called on the State Legislature on Tuesday to legalize recreational marijuana to help pay for coronavirus relief efforts.
In a six-tweet thread laying out his fall legislative agenda, Wolf wrote in part, &#8220;I&#8217;m calling on the legislature to legalize recreational marijuana.&#8221; He explained that the revenue from the drug sales would go to &#8220;small business grant funding&#8221; and &#8220;restorative justice programs.&#8221;
&#8220;At the same time, we must pursue policies that restore justice for individuals convicted of marijuana-related offenses,&#8221; he added.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
I&#39;m calling on the legislature to legalize recreational marijuana, with the revenue going to:
🔹 Small business grant funding 🔹 Restorative justice programs
At the same time, we must pursue policies that restore justice for individuals convicted of marijuana-related offenses.
&mdash; Governor Josh Shapiro (@GovernorShapiro) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovernorShapiro/status/1298265399469850633?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 25, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
“The governor is calling on the legislature to legalize recreational marijuana with the proceeds going to existing small business grant funding,&#8221; read a Tuesday <a href="https://www.governor.pa.gov/newsroom/gov-wolf-calls-on-legislature-to-act-immediately-on-covid-19-recovery-and-government-reform/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">press release</a> from the governor&#8217;s office, which continued:
<blockquote>Fifty percent of the funding would be earmarked for historically disadvantaged businesses. Along with the call to the General Assembly to pass legislation legalizing the sale and use of recreational marijuana, the governor proposes that a portion of the revenue be used to further restorative justice programs that give priority to repairing the harm done to crime victims and communities as a result of marijuana criminalization.</blockquote>
<blockquote>Also, the governor wants the General Assembly to pursue criminal justice reform policies that restore justice for individuals convicted of marijuana-related offenses.</blockquote>
Wolf and his administration have taken flak for their response to the coronavirus. As The Daily Wire <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/class-action-lawsuit-alleges-pennsylvania-government-violated-constitutional-rights-when-distributing-coronavirus-business-waivers" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">reported</a>, a class-action lawsuit alleged in May that the Pennsylvania state government violated constitutional rights when it issued waivers to &#8220;life-sustaining&#8221; businesses:
<blockquote>The process was not transparent, and resulted in some businesses within the same industry getting different treatment. As Spotlight PA <a href="https://www.inquirer.com/business/spl/pennsylvania-business-waivers-revoked-coronavirus-shutdown-20200513.html" rel="noopener">reported</a> earlier this month, one photographer was granted a waiver while another was denied. A notary was granted a waiver but had it revoked without explanation the night before a list of waiver recipients was publicly posted. A trucking company that had been denied a waiver was suddenly granted one without explanation at the same time.</blockquote>
Wolf&#8217;s health secretary, Dr. Rachel Levine, has also come under scrutiny for <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/pa-health-official-tasked-with-overseeing-nursing-homes-pulled-out-own-mother-while-policies-wreaked-havoc" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">pulling her mother</a> out of a nursing home as deaths piled up in long-term care facilities across the state. Levine has become a flashpoint in the state&#8217;s fight against the coronavirus.
Most recently, a report from local Pittsburgh outlet WPXI <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/outrageous-pa-health-secretary-reportedly-cut-secret-deal-with-car-show-to-bypass-covid-19-restrictions" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">uncovered</a> legal documents indicating that Levine made a confidential agreement with a car show near Harrisburg that allowed them to skirt the state&#8217;s limit on outdoor gatherings. State lawmakers described the agreement as “outrageous,” “ridiculous,” and “not fair.”
Levine also defended Wolf&#8217;s apparent hypocrisy in June after he marched in solidarity with protesters following George Floyd&#8217;s death. As the Daily Wire reported:
<blockquote>Regarding why the governor and protesters were seemingly given a pass, Levine said, “The governor has always said that people have the right to protest, and to demonstrate, and the right to free speech, and so overall, we want large gatherings such as maybe a party or some type of concert or something, to be under 250 people.”
“But, we are not restricting people’s right to protest,” Levine added. “There are all obviously significant social issues that are present, that people feel that they need to have a voice, and so the governor is always supportive of that and is participating.”</blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
PA Health Sec. won’t allow the state to reopen or people to gather &#8211; and the Gov. who said businesses that disobey are cowards as he marches in protests himself &#8211; actually tries to legitimize limitless protests in the street while standing by restrictions. <a href="https://t.co/4jKwJGBtpG">pic.twitter.com/4jKwJGBtpG</a>
&mdash; Chris Stigall (@ChrisStigall) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisStigall/status/1268329029159059456?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 3, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/hate-speech-pa-governor-scolds-trump-campaign-adviser-for-misgendering-health-secretary" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">‘Hate Speech’: PA Governor Scolds Trump Campaign Adviser For ‘Misgendering’ Health Secretary</a>

Tom Wolf marijuana

PA Gov. Tom Wolf Wants To Legalize Weed To Pay For Coronavirus Relief

Marijuana

Pennsylvania&#8217;s Health Secretary reportedly cut a secret agreement with a car show near the state capital that enabled them to get around coronavirus restrictions on outdoor gatherings.
According to legal documents obtained by local Pittsburgh outlet <a href="https://www.wpxi.com/news/investigates/confidential-agreement-uncovered-allowed-car-show-happen-despite-covid-19-restrictions/BUN43H7C3ZDCJJ2MIIEYXRN6AU/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WPXI</a>, Dr. Rachel Levine made a confidential settlement agreement with the Carlisle Car Show near Harrisburg that allowed 20,000 people to attend their four-day event in June. According to Pennsylvania’s <a href="https://www.governor.pa.gov/process-to-reopen-pennsylvania/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">color-coded reopening plan</a>, outdoor gatherings are limited 250 people or less.
The apparent hypocrisy has shocked and dismayed some state lawmakers, who told WPXI the move was &#8220;outrageous,&#8221; &#8220;ridiculous,&#8221; and &#8220;not fair.&#8221; Republican state Rep. Aaron Bernstein, who represents counties in the western part of the state, described it as &#8220;despicable,&#8221; adding, &#8220;It’s not fair that eastern PA set up deals when we abide by rules.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Butler county leaders say this is about much more than a car show on the other side of the state. They say a confidential deal cut last month between the health department and a huge outdoor event allowing 20,000 people in per day shows hypocrisy and favoritism during a pandemic. <a href="https://t.co/ch3vrfTGhT">pic.twitter.com/ch3vrfTGhT</a>
&mdash; Amy Marcinkiewicz (@VoteAmy2021) <a href="https://twitter.com/VoteAmy2021/status/1296555040958746625?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 20, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<div class="card collection-item " data-type="text">
<div id="" class="card-content card-article">
Democratic state Rep. Chris Sainato, who represents Lawrence County on the Ohio border, told WPXI, &#8220;That was surprising to me when you told me we’ve been making the sacrifices for five months.&#8221;
Pointing out how the county fair had to be canceled to comply with the health secretary&#8217;s mandates, Sainato said such a deal transcends political party. &#8220;I don’t think it’s truly fair throughout the state. You have to play by the same rules for everywhere no matter where you are in the state.&#8221;
Republican state Rep. Marci Mustello of Butler County was likewise incensed, saying, &#8220;I think somebody needs to explain why this agreement was allowed or even offered. So yes, it’s outrageous to even think this.&#8221;
</div>
</div>
The car show agreement is not the first time Pennsylvania officials have faced accusations of inconsistently applying COVID-19 restrictions. Democratic Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf <a href="https://www.pennlive.com/coronavirus/2020/06/why-did-pa-gov-tom-wolf-join-a-protest-with-thousands-of-people-breaking-the-rules-in-a-yellow-phase-county.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">broke his own state’s coronavirus lockdown restrictions</a> on June 3, when he marched in solidarity with hundreds of protesters in Harrisburg following the death of George Floyd. In Harrisburg’s Dauphin County, which was in the &#8220;yellow phase&#8221; at the time, gatherings were restricted to 25 people or less.
Regarding why the governor and protesters were seemingly given a pass, Levine said, “The governor has always said that people have the right to protest, and to demonstrate, and the right to free speech, and so overall, we want large gatherings such as maybe a party or some type of concert or something, to be under 250 people.”
“But, we are not restricting people’s right to protest,” Levine added. “There are all obviously significant social issues that are present, that people feel that they need to have a voice, and so the governor is always supportive of that and is participating.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
PA Health Sec. won’t allow the state to reopen or people to gather &#8211; and the Gov. who said businesses that disobey are cowards as he marches in protests himself &#8211; actually tries to legitimize limitless protests in the street while standing by restrictions. <a href="https://t.co/4jKwJGBtpG">pic.twitter.com/4jKwJGBtpG</a>
&mdash; Chris Stigall (@ChrisStigall) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisStigall/status/1268329029159059456?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 3, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Citing it as an &#8220;ongoing legal issue,&#8221; Levine refused WPXI&#8217;s repeated attempts to obtain substantive comment. Wolf also offered no comment, according to the outlet. While neither Levine nor Wolf had anything to say about the confidential agreement, the two have been vocal when it comes to scolding Pennsylvanians who do not acknowledge the biologically male Levine as a woman.
In May, Levine <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/transgender-pennsylvania-health-director-melts-down-in-press-conference-after-reporter-uses-wrong-pronoun" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">warned</a> radio personality Marty Griffin against misgendering her after he called Levine &#8220;sir&#8221; several times. Griffin apologized profusely and maintained that he used the wrong pronoun unintentionally, though he did not escape accusations of transphobia. As punishment, Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto subsequently canceled an interview on Griffin&#8217;s radio station.
When a county fair in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, featured a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/hate-has-no-place-in-pennsylvania-county-fair-takes-flak-for-transphobic-dunk-tank-mocking-pa-health-secretary" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">dunk tank</a> with a man dressed as a woman in July, Wolf and Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) went on Twitter to blast those who said he resembled Levine. &#8220;Dr. Levine is an honorable public servant whose tireless work to keep PA safe and healthy has saved countless lives,&#8221; Casey said. &#8220;She is owed an apology.&#8221; Wolf echoed him in a rebuke that spanned three tweets, admonishing that &#8220;hate has no place in Pennsylvania.&#8221;
Most recently, Wolf <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/hate-speech-pa-governor-scolds-trump-campaign-adviser-for-misgendering-health-secretary" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">lashed out</a> at Trump campaign adviser Jenna Ellis earlier this month, accusing her of hate speech after she called Levine a guy. &#8220;To [Ellis] and whoever else needs to hear this: Misgendering a transgender person is hate speech and it’s unacceptable,&#8221; Wolf said. The Human Rights Campaign accused Ellis of being &#8220;a bigot.&#8221;
As The Daily Wire <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/hate-speech-pa-governor-scolds-trump-campaign-adviser-for-misgendering-health-secretary" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">reported</a>, Ellis responded in part, &#8220;To be called a bigot for simply acknowledging scientific fact is both hilarious and tragic.&#8221;
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/pa-health-official-tasked-with-overseeing-nursing-homes-pulled-out-own-mother-while-policies-wreaked-havoc" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">PA Health Official Tasked With Overseeing Nursing Homes Pulled Out Own Mother While Policies Wreaked Havoc</a>

rachel levine

‘Outrageous’: PA Health Secretary Reportedly Cut Secret Deal With Car Show To Bypass COVID-19 Restrictions

Democratic Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf accused Trump campaign adviser Jenna Ellis of hate speech on Monday after she called his transgender health secretary a &#8220;guy.&#8221;
Ellis, a personal attorney to President Donald Trump and a senior legal adviser to his 2020 campaign, tweeted, &#8220;This guy is making decisions about your health,&#8221; in reference to PA Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine. Her tweet referred to a May <a href="https://www.pennlive.com/news/2020/05/reporter-calls-pa-health-secretary-sir-multiple-times-in-phone-interview.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">story</a> in which Levine corrects a reporter for repeatedly using the word &#8220;sir.&#8221;
Wolf condemned Ellis in response, tweeting, &#8220;To [Ellis] and whoever else needs to hear this: Misgendering a transgender person is hate speech and it&#8217;s unacceptable.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
To <a href="https://twitter.com/JennaEllisEsq?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JennaEllisEsq</a> and whoever else needs to hear this: Misgendering a transgender person is hate speech and it’s unacceptable.
&mdash; Governor Josh Shapiro (@GovernorShapiro) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovernorShapiro/status/1292878250147024898?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 10, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
In a statement to <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/511322-trump-campaign-adviser-sparks-criticism-for-misgendering-pennsylvania" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Hill</a>, a spokesman for the Pennsylvania Department of Health said, “Dr. Levine is laser-focused on assisting Pennsylvanians in the midst of a national pandemic. She does not have time for this nonsense.”
Accusing Ellis of bigotry, Human Rights Campaign President Alphonso David also attacked the Trump administration. &#8220;Jenna Ellis is a bigot and Dr. Levine is a patriot — plain and simple,&#8221; he told The Hill. &#8220;Dr. Levine illustrates character and patriotism while Ellis cannot even define those terms. Using a person’s pronouns is a basic level of respect. Despite claims of allyship, Donald Trump, Mike Pence, and their staff have gone out of their way to dehumanize and attack transgender and non-binary people simply for existing.&#8221;
Ellis was unapologetic in the face of such accusations, releasing a <a href="https://twitter.com/JennaEllisEsq/status/1292993666970038272" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">statement</a> on Twitter that said neither The Washington Post nor Newsweek were willing to publish in full &#8220;in their coverage of the fauxrage.&#8221; Ellis wrote:
<blockquote>To be called a bigot for simply acknowledging scientific fact is both hilarious and tragic. The truth of biology shows that human beings are created immutably male and female. Yet in our post-truth society, the progressive leftists not only demand that we affirm patently false facts, but also demand we not &#8216;offend&#8217; people who insist on speaking their lies, otherwise we are called insensitive bigots and required to apologize. I won&#8217;t apologize. Our Constitution still protects our fundamental, God-given right to speak and affirm Truth and I&#8217;ll continue to stand firm speaking and affirming Truth.</blockquote>
Pennsylvania officials have taken to Twitter before to scold people who do not acknowledge Levine as a woman. When a fair in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/hate-has-no-place-in-pennsylvania-county-fair-takes-flak-for-transphobic-dunk-tank-mocking-pa-health-secretary" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">featured a dunk tank</a> with a man in a dress last month, the Bloomsburg Fair&#8217;s Facebook page joked that it was Levine. The joke drew swift condemnation from Wolf, as well as from Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA), who said, &#8220;Hate and bigotry have no place in our society.&#8221;
Wolf took flak when he <a href="https://www.pennlive.com/coronavirus/2020/06/why-did-pa-gov-tom-wolf-join-a-protest-with-thousands-of-people-breaking-the-rules-in-a-yellow-phase-county.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">violated his own state’s coronavirus lockdown restrictions</a> on June 3 to march in solidarity with hundreds of protesters in Harrisburg following the death of George Floyd. In Harrisburg’s Dauphin County, gatherings were restricted to 25 people or less at the time, according to Pennsylvania’s <a href="https://www.governor.pa.gov/process-to-reopen-pennsylvania/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">color-coded reopening plan</a>.
When pressed on his apparent rule-breaking, Levine said, “The governor has always said that people have the right to protest and to demonstrate, and the right to free speech, and so overall, we want large gatherings such as maybe a party or some type of concert or something, to be under 250 people.”
“But, we are not restricting people’s right to protest,” Levine added. “There are all obviously significant social issues that are present, that people feel that they need to have a voice, and so the governor is always supportive of that and is participating.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
PA Health Sec. won’t allow the state to reopen or people to gather &#8211; and the Gov. who said businesses that disobey are cowards as he marches in protests himself &#8211; actually tries to legitimize limitless protests in the street while standing by restrictions. <a href="https://t.co/4jKwJGBtpG">pic.twitter.com/4jKwJGBtpG</a>
&mdash; Chris Stigall (@ChrisStigall) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisStigall/status/1268329029159059456?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 3, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/hate-has-no-place-in-pennsylvania-county-fair-takes-flak-for-transphobic-dunk-tank-mocking-pa-health-secretary" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">‘Hate Has No Place In Pennsylvania’: County Fair Takes Flak For ‘Transphobic’ Dunk Tank Mocking PA Health Secretary</a>

‘Hate Speech’: PA Governor Scolds Trump Campaign Adviser For ‘Misgendering’ Health Secretary

Transgender

A Pennsylvania state fair faced condemnation from state leaders after featuring a dunk tank with a man dressed as a woman in an apparent jab at PA Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine, who is transgender.
Bloomsburg, a town along the Susquehanna River about 40 miles southwest of Wilkes-Barre, holds one of Pennsylvania&#8217;s largest state fairs every year. In a carnival held on the fairgrounds last weekend, the local fire department raised money with a dunk tank featuring their fire chief decked out in a flowery dress, as reported by <a href="https://apnews.com/0f2961360d5679c16e9a2135b6a51714" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Associated Press</a>.
In a since-deleted Facebook post, the Bloomsburg Fair Association later wrote, &#8220;Dr. Levine? Thank you, you were a hit and raised a lot of money for the local fire companies. Wonder why so many were trying to dunk you,&#8221; to which was appended a smiley face emoji. &#8220;Thanks everyone that came out to support our local fire companies.&#8221;
https://twitter.com/Iris_and_Honey/status/1285257657578917889
After the event began stoking backlash on social media, Fair President Randy Karschner denied that any resemblance to Levine was intentional, saying, &#8220;A fellow dressed up in a dress to get people to throw balls at the dunk tank to raise money. It turned into where people thought we were offending Dr. Rachel Levine, and that was no intention at all.&#8221;
The man in the dress, Main Township Fire Chief David Broadt, likewise maintained that there was no malicious intent behind his costume, telling a local newspaper that he was &#8220;going for a Marilyn Monroe look&#8221; until members of the crowd began calling him Levine and asking where his mask was.
&#8220;It was just in fun,&#8221; Broadt said. &#8220;It wasn’t done to disrespect her.&#8221;
Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) condemned the dunk tank, tweeting Monday, &#8220;Dr. Levine is an honorable public servant whose tireless work to keep PA safe and healthy has saved countless lives. She is owed an apology. Hate and bigotry have no place in our society. The members of the Pennsylvania transgender community are our neighbors and friends. Treat them that way.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Hate and bigotry have no place in our society. The members of the Pennsylvania transgender community are our neighbors and friends. Treat them that way.
&mdash; Senator Bob Casey (@SenBobCasey) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenBobCasey/status/1285387528963534848?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 21, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Democratic Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf echoed Casey in a three-tweet thread on Wednesday, writing, &#8220;I want to talk about the transphobic incident involving the Bloomsburg Fair. This is the latest in a relentless series of vile slurs directed at Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine — a highly skilled and accomplished member of my administration.&#8221;
&#8220;Dr. Levine is a distinguished public servant,&#8221; Wolf continued. &#8220;She’s committed to keeping Pennsylvanians safe and healthy, even those who direct hate-fueled attacks at her. I’m proud of the work she has done in her five years serving Pennsylvanians, and especially during the COVID-19 crisis. Hate has no place in Pennsylvania. I’m calling on all Pennsylvanians: Speak out against hateful comments and acts, including transphobia, when you see them.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
I want to talk about the transphobic incident involving the Bloomsburg Fair.
This is the latest in a relentless series of vile slurs directed at Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine — a highly skilled and accomplished member of my administration.
&mdash; Governor Josh Shapiro (@GovernorShapiro) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovernorShapiro/status/1286030575107809280?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 22, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Hate has no place in Pennsylvania.
I’m calling on all Pennsylvanians: Speak out against hateful comments and acts, including transphobia, when you see them.
&mdash; Governor Josh Shapiro (@GovernorShapiro) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovernorShapiro/status/1286030576630325260?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 22, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Both <a href="https://www.inquirer.com/business/spl/pennsylvania-coronavirus-wolf-home-products-essential-business-life-sustaining-20200330.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Wolf</a> and <a href="https://www.pennlive.com/news/2020/05/health-secretary-rachel-levines-removal-of-mom-from-care-home-amid-epidemic-draws-scrutiny.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Levine</a> have faced criticism for Pennsylvania&#8217;s response to the coronavirus.
Wolf <a href="https://www.pennlive.com/coronavirus/2020/06/why-did-pa-gov-tom-wolf-join-a-protest-with-thousands-of-people-breaking-the-rules-in-a-yellow-phase-county.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">broke his own state&#8217;s coronavirus lockdown restrictions</a> on June 3, when he marched in solidarity with hundreds of protesters in Harrisburg following the death of George Floyd. In Harrisburg&#8217;s Dauphin County, gatherings were restricted to 25 people or less at the time, according to Pennsylvania&#8217;s <a href="https://www.governor.pa.gov/process-to-reopen-pennsylvania/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">color-coded reopening plan</a>.
Levine defended the governor&#8217;s apparent hypocrisy, saying, &#8220;The governor has always said that people have the right to protest, and to demonstrate, and the right to free speech, and so overall, we want large gatherings such as maybe a party or some type of concert or something, to be under 250 people.&#8221;
&#8220;But, we are not restricting people’s right to protest,&#8221; Levine added. &#8220;There are all obviously significant social issues that are present, that people feel that they need to have a voice, and so the governor is always supportive of that and is participating.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
PA Health Sec. won’t allow the state to reopen or people to gather &#8211; and the Gov. who said businesses that disobey are cowards as he marches in protests himself &#8211; actually tries to legitimize limitless protests in the street while standing by restrictions. <a href="https://t.co/4jKwJGBtpG">pic.twitter.com/4jKwJGBtpG</a>
&mdash; Chris Stigall (@ChrisStigall) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisStigall/status/1268329029159059456?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 3, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
RELATED: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/nyc-mayor-protesting-and-going-to-church-not-the-same" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">NYC Mayor: Protesting And Going To Church ‘Not The Same’</a>

‘Hate Has No Place In Pennsylvania’: County Fair Takes Flak For ‘Transphobic’ Dunk Tank Mocking PA Health Secretary

When Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D) shut down the state to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus, his administration began issuing waivers to certain businesses that had been deemed not “life-sustaining,” which would allow them to remain open.
The process was not transparent, and resulted in some businesses within the same industry getting different treatment. As Spotlight PA <a href="https://www.inquirer.com/business/spl/pennsylvania-business-waivers-revoked-coronavirus-shutdown-20200513.html">reported</a> earlier this month, one photographer was granted a waiver while another was denied. A notary was granted a waiver but had it revoked without explanation the night before a list of waiver recipients was publicly posted. A trucking company that had been denied a waiver was suddenly granted one without explanation at the same time.
There was seemingly no rhyme or reason to the process, and business owners and individuals sued. One lawsuit alleged Wolf and his administration violated petitioners “constitutional guarantees against having property taken without compensation and their rights to judicial review, equal protection under the law and free speech,” The Morning Call <a href="https://www.mcall.com/coronavirus/mc-nws-coronavirus-alito-orders-wolf-respond-business-shutdown-lawsuit-20200501-fahdr2sevjghtiej4oq2v6kynu-story.html">reported</a>.
The state Supreme Court refused to review the lawsuit, but the U.S. Supreme Court ended up weighing in, ordering Wolf to respond to the lawsuit.
That particular lawsuit includes real estate agent Kathy Gregory, who told the Call that people who had agreed to sell their homes were not able to buy new properties before Wolf’s shut down order went into effect and that members of the military – who are still moving from assignment to assignment – are unable to find homes.
“How do you tell someone that housing is not a priority because the government shut us down?” she asked the outlet, adding that shelter is “basic.”
Another lawsuit, obtained by The Daily Wire includes numerous plaintiffs including a real estate brokerage firm, a home inspection company, and a swimming pool retail store. Wolf’s order essentially destroyed these businesses, who derived the vast majority of their revenue from in-person services.
Walter Zimolong, the attorney representing the plaintiffs in that lawsuit, argues that 42,000 businesses in Pennsylvania applied for waivers to continue operating, and just 7,000 received them, including Wolf’s family business, Wolf Home Products. In an email to The Daily Wire, Zimolong said one of the businesses that was granted a waiver was a hair salon conveniently located in the state capitol in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Kenwood Pools, one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, was denied a waiver while two of its competitors’ waivers were granted. Win Homes Inspection, another company suing Wolf and his administration, also was denied a waiver while a competitor’s was granted.
Both lawsuits alleged the Wolf administration violated the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment because they were treated differently than competitors whose businesses were similar in all relevant aspects.
The New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/03/us/corona-virus-lawsuits.html">reported</a> that Pennsylvania is not the only state getting sued due to business shut downs. Similar lawsuits have been filed in Arizona, New Hampshire, and other states.
The Daily Wire, headed by bestselling author and popular podcast host Ben Shapiro, is a leading provider of conservative news, cutting through the mainstream media’s rhetoric to provide readers the most important, relevant, and engaging stories of the day. Get inside access to The Daily Wire by becoming a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/subscribe">member</a>.

Class-action Lawsuit Alleges Pennsylvania Government Violated Constitutional Rights When Distributing Coronavirus Business Waivers

Lawsuit

Pennsylvania has been granting waivers to businesses that haven’t been deemed “life-sustaining” to allow them to remain open during the coronavirus shutdown. But this week, some businesses that were granted waivers back in late March have suddenly had them rescinded without explanation, while others who were initially denied a waiver have been surprisingly approved.
Spotlight PA <a href="https://www.inquirer.com/business/spl/pennsylvania-business-waivers-revoked-coronavirus-shutdown-20200513.html">reported</a> on the stories of several business owners caught in the confusing and frustrating process, such as Tiffany Kuhn, who runs a mobile notary business that had received a waiver to continue operating on March 23. Last Thursday evening, around 9:30 p.m., however, Kuhn received an email from Gov. Tom Wolf’s (D-PA) administration saying her waiver had been rescinded. She received no explanation as to why.
Kuhn told Spotlight PA that she had taken precautions while continuing to operate her business by wearing gloves and a mask. “My first thought was, someone turned on me,” Kuhn told the outlet, suspecting a competitor might have said something.
She’s not alone. The confusing and much-criticized waiver process has allowed some businesses to operate while others in the same industry were told to close.
“Businesses have criticized the waiver process, saying the decisions were made in secret and applied unfairly, causing some in the same industry to operate while competitors were forced to remain closed. In some cases, a waiver could mean the difference between a business’ surviving the shutdown or going bankrupt,” Spotlight PA reported.
Micah Durling, who owns a photography business that specializes in real estate photos, had been granted a waiver on March 25, the outlet reported. Like Kuhn, he had taken precautions while operating – wearing protective gear, cleaning equipment after each shoot, and taking pictures when residents were not in their home. On Monday afternoon, Durling’s waiver was pulled – just days after a competitor complained about not receiving a waiver as well.
Last Friday, Wolf’s administration made public a list of those who had received waivers. Many whose names were not included on the list – such as Kuhn and a Central Pennsylvania garden store – were informed their waivers were pulled the night before the list was published. Others, such as Durling, were notified after the list was published.
Then there’s the case of Stacy White, who owns a trucking company with her husband just north of Scranton. They had been told they would not receive a waiver, but the night before the list was published, they received notification that they could now operate.
“I was like, huh, backpedal a little bit? … Fixing what went wrong?” White told the outlet.
More from Spotlight PA:
<blockquote>Officials with the Department of Community and Economic Development said the revocations were part of “a quality control review process” that began several weeks ago. In all, 69 businesses had their waivers revoked, spokesperson Casey Smith said, although she was unable to immediately say when they were notified.
“During that process, which is ongoing, we are rescinding waivers that were issued in error or do not meet the appropriate criteria,” Smith said.
The administration’s handling of the waiver process has been fraught from the start. The Department of Community and Economic Development has never detailed the criteria used to consider applications, nor has it made those applications public. It also hasn’t identified which businesses were denied, or those that were approved and then had their waiver revoked.</blockquote>
The Daily Wire, headed by bestselling author and popular podcast host Ben Shapiro, is a leading provider of conservative news, cutting through the mainstream media’s rhetoric to provide readers the most important, relevant, and engaging stories of the day. Get inside access to The Daily Wire by becoming a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/subscribe">member</a>.

Menu