UPDATED: 7:37 p.m.
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The bills are controversial because they are strongly opposed by Democrats in the state Legislature.
One bill passed the House on Tuesday and received Senate approval on Wednesday. It would have the governor create a process to reopen businesses based on federal guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
Republicans argued for the bill, saying the process of businesses seeking waivers from the Wolf administration has been “arbitrary and capricious.”
Democrats said reopening businesses too soon would be “reckless and irresponsible.”
A spokeswoman for Wolf says he plans to veto the bill, saying it would only extend economic hardships created by the pandemic.
The Senate also passed another bill that would give Pennsylvania counties the authority to reopen businesses — an authority that one Democratic senator wondered aloud if counties would even want.
“We are literally transferring the authority to make these decisions to county commissioners who may not actually even want this authority,” said Sen. Judy Schwank, a Democrat from Berks County.
“When the governor began the process of stay-at-home orders, he didn’t do it 67 counties at a time,” said Republican Jake Corman, the Senate majority leader.
That bill will have to go to the House for further consideration.