Gov. Tom Wolf will veto bill that would allow more businesses to open in Pennsylvania

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ELENA: IT PASSED IN THE STATE HOUSE AND SENATE, BUT IN COMING DAYS GOVERNOR WOLF PLANS TO VETO SENATE BILL 613. >> I WAS HELPING THE GOVERNOR WOULD NOT VETO IT. HE HAS 10 DAYS TO REALLY TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT IS HAPPENING. ELENA: THE BILL S -- THE BILL SEEKS TO REOPEN BUSINESSES FORCED TO CLOSE. LIKE DALLAS MICHELUCCI’. SHE OWNS TWO LOCATIONS IN 42 EMPLOYEES. THE DAY SHE LEFT THE HOSPITAL WITH HER NEWBORN SON, SHE LEARNED SHE HAD TO CLOSER DOORS. >> WE HAD THINGS IN PLACE SO I COULD TAKE MATERNITY LEAVE. IT ALL WENT DOWN THE DRAIN. ELENA: SHE IS WORKING NONSTOP TRYING TO KEEP YOUR BUSINESS AFLOAT. SELLING AND SHIPPING HAIR AND SKIN PRODUCTS. >> WE COULDN’T BE MORE EXCITED TO GET BACK TO WORK. FOR THE LACK OF INCOME AND THE STRESS IT IS PUTTING ON MY STAF WE CAN’T AFFORD TO BE CLOSED ANY LONGER. ELEN SENATOR CAM WARD VOTED IN FAVOR OF BILL 61 NOTING THE SURGE IN UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS. UNEMPLOYMENT IS AT 1.4 MILLION. HOW DO WE FIX THAT? WE FIX THAT BY PUTTING PEOPLE BACK TO WORK. ELENA: ON THE OTHER SITE, REPRESENTATIVE DAN MILLER VOTED AGAINST THE BILL, CITING THE IMPORTANCE OF FOLLOWING CDC GUIDELINES PER --. >> NO MEDICAL AUTHORITY AT ALL WAS SUGGESTING IT WAS THE WAY TO GO. IT SEEMED TO LACK ENFORCEMENT POLICY THAT WOULD COME UP. ELENA: TOM WOLF ECHOING THE SAME CONCERN TO SAYING THE BILL WOULD BE VETOED BECAUSE IRRESPONSIBLY GOING AGAINST THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH WILL ONLY EXTEND THE LENGTH OF HARDSHIPS

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UPDATE: Gov. Tom Wolf plans to veto Senate Bill 613, his office said Wednesday night."As the administration has stated many times, irresponsibly going against the direction of the secretary of health and reopening businesses too early will only extend the length of the economic hardships created by the pandemic," said Wolf's press secretary, Lyndsay Kensinger.In a letter to senators, Pennsylvania Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine said the bill would dilute the state's coronavirus mitigation efforts and have a "devastating impact" on public health."While the governor and I are as eager as anyone to begin getting people back to work, doing so prematurely will only increase the spread of the virus, further lengthening associated economic challenges, while also placing more lives at risk," Levine wrote to the senators.PREVIOUS STORY: Senate Bill 613 passed in the House Tuesday and again in the Senate Wednesday afternoon along party lines, expanding the definition of essential businesses in the state, while providing a passage to reopen very soon.(Watch Sheldon Ingram's original report in the video below.)House Speaker Mike Turzai (R-28th District) says Republicans led the push to get the bill passed because of a staggering 1.4 million unemployment claims filed in the state and a steady migration of Pennsylvania residents crossing state lines to buy goods."Most other states are allowing work so persons can put food on their table, take care of their family, take care of their shelter, because they can meet safety requirements of the Centers for Disease Control," Turzai said.Republican leaders have criticized Gov. Tom Wolf's essential business list, saying it lacks clarity and clear definitions of what businesses can and cannot open.Sen. Kim Ward (R-39th District) says businesses should be allowed to reopen as long as they follow established safety protocols to guard against the spread of the coronavirus."Those three weeks, four weeks, people are going without paychecks, they can't pay their child support, they can't pay their bills," Ward said. "It's just very frustrating when some of those people could, in the very near future, go safely back to work."Wolf has 10 days to sign the bill, however, health officials have warned against reopening businesses too early because of the risk of a re-emerging spread of the deadly virus.