Tuesday PA Capitol & Coronavirus NewsClips 5.12.20

Senate in voting session May 12, and 13 [Call Of President Pro Tempore]

House in voting session May 18, 19, 20, 26 & 27 [Call Of House Speaker]

Both the House and Senate Are Operating Under Remote Voting Rules That Limit Debate and Public Access To Legislators

New Poll Shows 72% Support For Wolf’s Handling Of Pandemic, Like Previous Polls [Taken April 27-May 4]

AP-Mark Scolforo: Taxpayers Foot Bill To Supply Senate, House Members With Army Of Aides

AP: Senate, House Lawmakers’ Spending On Their Own Operations
Note: Senate, House Republicans STILL Sitting On $172 Million Surplus In Their Own Legislative Accounts

Civil Rights Group Seeks To Block Judicial Watch Lawsuit To Avoid Purge Of PA Voter Rolls

Luzerne County Still Short Of Poll Workers

Should Health Insurers Be Offering Rebates Because Regular Medical Services Aren’t Available?

For Inbound College Students, And Universities, Fall Semester Presents New Choices, Dilemmas

Op-Ed: Finding Pennsylvania Jobs In A Post-Coronavirus World

Jan Murphy: PA Schools Face Potential $1 Billion In Lost Revenue Due To Virus

Dept. Of Education Expects Schools To Reopen In Fall

AP: Students Expected To Return To School In Fall, Ed Secretary Says

Virtual Schooling Is Not Homeschooling

Op-Ed: PA Schools Could Face Devastating Budget Cuts Due To COVID-19

Editorial: Erie Schools Face Hard COVID-19 Facts

Allegheny County Sales Tax Plunge Threatens Funding For Parks, Libraries, Arts Group

Editorial: By Giving Cities More Tax Tools, Lawmakers Would Help First Responders

AP: Execution Notice Signed In State Police Ambush, But Moratorium Remains

Billion Dollar Overhaul Of Pittsburgh Airport On Hold

Other States/National/International

Laura Olson: PA Projects Big Financial Hit To Children’s Health Insurance Program Next Year

AP: Trump Casts Doubt On Voting By Mail, His Campaign Promotes It

Jill Biden To Hold Virtual Events In PA

Coronavirus

Gov. Wolf To Pennsylvania: We Must Stay the Course On COVID-19, We Must Follow the Law [PaCN]   Click Here for a copy of the Governor's remarks.

Spotlight PA: Gov. Wolf Denounces PA Counties Reopening Without His Approval As ‘Cowardly,’ ‘Selfish”

AP: Gov. Wolf: ‘Cowardly’ Counties ‘Choosing To Desert’ Virus Fight

Ford Turner: Gov. Wolf Says Those Urging Counties To Reopen Outside Of His Schedule Are ‘Acting In A Most Cowardly Way’

John Micek: Wolf: Counties That Reopen In Defiance Of Stay At Home Orders Are Surrendering To COVID-19

Wolf Threatens To Withhold Funds From Counties That Go Rogue

Gov. Wolf Threatens Action Against Counties, Businesses That Ignore COVID-19 Restrictions

Gov. Wolf Threatens Funding, License Cuts If Counties Move To Reopen Without His Approval

Can Wolf Withhold Virus Recovery Money From Counties That Defy Shutdown Orders, Yes, But Expect Pushback

Wolf ‘Huffs And Puffs’ At Politicians Refusing To Follow Orders

Wolf: No Plans To Give Arbitrary Reopening Dates

State Says Workers Don’t Have To Report If Business Reopens Illegally

The Latest PA Unemployment Compensation Filings Total: 1.8 Million

AP: Workplace Worries Mount As U.S. Tracks New COVID=19 Cases

Beaver County Officials Plan To Move Forward To Yellow Phase Reopening Despite Wolf’s Warning

Lebanon, Berks DAs Issue New Guidance On Business Risks Of Defying Governor’s Orders

Ford Turner: Sen. Boscola Asks Gov. Wolf To Consider Reopening Lehigh Valley Immediately

Lehigh Valley Leaders Look To Work Within The System On Wolf Stay At Home Orders

Lackawanna County Won’t Defy Wolf’s Restrictions, But Many Businesses Ready To Safely Reopen

Cumberland County Plans To Remain Red As Neighbors Move To Yellow On Their Own

Perry County Not Happy About Being In Red Zone, But Won’t Bolt For Yellow

Hospitals, Democrats Out Of The Loop On Letter Advising Wolf Lancaster County Is Moving To Yellow

How Pennsylvania Decides When Counties Can Reopen

Insurance Department Warns Of Risks, Increased Liability With Non-Compliance of Business Closure Orders [PaCN]

AP: Wolf Administration Warns Businesses Defying Shutdown They Could Be Jeopardizing Their Insurance Coverage

Insurance Commissioner: It’s Risky For Businesses To Defy Wolf’s Closure Order

Spotlight PA: Republicans Take Wolf To Court Over Business Waiver Records Subpoena

Ford Turner: Senate Republicans Go To Court To Enforce Business Waiver Records Subpoena

Op-Ed: What Is The Science Driving Wolf’s Coronavirus Policies?  Commonwealth Partners

Rep. Toohil Seeks Better Reporting Of COVID-19 Data From Industrial Sector

Hospitals Ask Wolf For Half Of PA’s $4 Billion Stimulus

Epidemiologist Says There’s Reason For Western PA To Be Optimistic About Future Under COVID-19

Jan Murphy: PA Schools Face Potential $1 Billion In Lost Revenue Due To Virus

Dept. Of Education Expects Schools To Reopen In Fall

AP: Students Expected To Return To School In Fall, Ed Secretary Says

Virtual Schooling Is Not Homeschooling

Op-Ed: PA Schools Could Face Devastating Budget Cuts Due To COVID-19

Editorial: Erie Schools Face Hard COVID-19 Facts

PennDOT Reopens Additional Roadside Rest Areas

Dept. Of Health Reports 24 Additional Deaths From COVID-19 In PA [PaCN]  5.11.20

PA To Release Specific Long Term Care, Nursing Home Data ‘Later This Week’

New Requirements For Testing Nursing Home Staff Being Considered, Says Health Secretary

John Micek: House Speaker Turzai Hammered For Dubious COVID-19 Twitter Post

Charles Thompson: Conservative Sen. Mastriano (R-Franklin) Calls For Resignation Of Health Secretary

Op-Ed: Lockdown Protesters Have A Moral Duty To Forgo Medical Care In Favor Of Those Who Follow The Rules

State Police Withdraw Stay At Home Violations Against 2 In Westmoreland

Agents Seize Shipment Of Unapproved Coronavirus Drug En Route To Union County

Editorial: Jeff Bezos’ Blindness: Amazon Failed To Protect Its Warehouse Staff

Passenger Trains Suspended On Pittsburgh-Philadelphia Route Until June 1

Giant Foods Gives Emergency Grants To Food Producers Across PA

Western PA Olympic Hopeful Now On COVID-19 Front Lines

National

The Guardian: Dr. Fauci To Warn U.S. Senate Of ‘Needless Suffering And Death’ If U.S. Reopens Too Soon

Laura Olson: Trump To Visit Lehigh Valley Medical Equipment Distributor Thursday

Trump Trip To PA Factory Producing PPE Materials Scuttled After Plant Expressed Concerns About Health Risks

Trump Tweets Pennsylvanians Want Their Freedom Now, In Apparent Support Of Bypassing Wolf Order

Lawmakers Demand Pittsburgh Company Return $10 Million Small Business Loan

Editorial: Food Stamp Funds Are Late Reaction

Click Here For This Week’s PA Coronavirus NewsClips

Tuesday PA Environment & Energy NewsClips 5.12.20 -- Click Here

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FairDistrictsPA: Fix Our Broken Redistricting Process 

[Posted: May 12, 2020]