Pennsylvania Doesn't Have a Friend in Gov. Wolf

In New York, Governor Andrew Cuomo is under scrutiny again for his botched nursing home policies and a subsequent coverup to avoid an investigation by the Department of Justice. Doubtful leadership isn't limited to the Empire State, however. Just look south to Pennsylvania, where Cuomo's Democratic colleague, Tom Wolf, faces dual concerns about his pandemic-era leadership.

During the COVID-19 crisis, Wolf failed to ensure health and economic security; rejected calls for transparency; refused to cooperate with the legislature; and issued mandates harming the working Pennsylvanians. Wolf was once thought of as a cerebral, if not sophisticated, person. Today, Pennsylvanians see a rigid governor whose COVID policies have been tarnished by mismanagement and scandals.

This dysfunction started last March when Wolf left the administration issued a memo require nursing homes to admit infected patients. This mandate led to a conference research, proved disastrous in Pennsylvania, which has a large senior population. Last June, 4,539 of the 6,649 COVID deaths in Pennsylvania – more than 70% – had occurred in nursing or retirement homes.

Incredibly, Wolf could have prevented this tragic outcome if he had just implemented it Pennsylvania & # 39; s Early Protection Plan for elderly care – but the state has not. Instead, he refused to run priority testing in nursing homes until late summerThe nursing home industry will arrive in December filed suit against the Wolf administration for knowingly withholding more than $ 150 million intended for financially limited facilities.

In the months that followed, the residents of Pennsylvania underwent the governor's uncontrolled executive. Weeks of & # 39; slowing the spread & # 39; turned into indefinite business closures, travel restrictions and unnecessary regulations.

The consequences were profound. At a given moment, 30% of companies the second most in the nation – were forcibly closed. When this mandate devastated the service sector, the state witnessed one unemployment debacle of epic proportions. Payments were postponed for monthsIlluminated workers felt abandoned. Meanwhile, 10,000 prisoners and 58,000 fraudsters successfully played the unemployment system and received checks. When questioned, Wolf shocked criticized small business owners and later even praised the Secretary of the Ministry of Labor and Industry who chaired this debacle.

As strict restrictions paralyzed the Pennsylvanian economy, Wolf rejected calls for transparency or legislative questions about its decision-making. When lawmakers or business owners sought a benchmark or rationale for economic blockades or sporadic reopening plans, Wolf was slow comment or even provide dataEven his former accountant general admitted that the business interruptions were inconsistent and dishonestHowever, the governor refused to do anything about it. Lawmakers responded to this lack of transparency with a unanimous bill that forced Wolf to reopen his Office of Open Records. Although Wolf threatened to veto he eventually allowed this bill to become law.

Over time, Pennsylvanians came to their conclusion: Wolf's approval rating suddenly refusedBut the governor, thanks to his emergency executive powers, maintained his unpopular COVID policy.

Since then, Wolf has opposed cooperation with the General Assembly and local provincial officials. He refused to follow the advice of the legislators business interruptions or are controversial reopening planIn the meantime he tried millions of federal stimulus aid refuse to struggling provinces opposing his edicts. During 2020, Wolf used his veto 19 times, the most of any Pennsylvania governor in decades. Those same vetoes often corresponded to unilateral executive measures to pursue the same or a similar policy – without the legislature.

Wolf shows no signs of course correction as the incompetence continues. In recent weeks has been Secretary of State resigned following an administrative error that prevents a vote on an amendment for victims of sexual abuse. Vaccine rollout in Pennsylvania has been messed up, ranking 45^th in the country for distribution and departure from healthcare confused and frustratedThis week, state health officials announced vaccines were given incorrectly, delaying 100,000 Pennsylvanians. In response to all this mismanagement, Wolf has focused on his state budget proposal: the largest tax increase in Pennsylvania history

While Pennsylvanians suffer under Wolf's leadership, they will have the opportunity to force the governor to cooperate with the legislature. In May, voters will be given a vote on a state constitutional change limit a governor's unilateral emergency powers and require regulatory approval.

Pennsylvania experience shows that incompetence, pettiness, and inflexibility are not limited to executive power in Albany. With each passing day, residents of the state are losing patience – many in fact go elsewhereWhen they pack their U-Hauls, they think of Wolf and the oppressive economic conditions his policies have created. However, the Keystone State can begin the path to recovery by having the next governor look out for working Pennsylvanians.