Edited from Submitted Material
Area legislators provided a legislative update on Oct. 2 during the Montrose Area Chamber of Commerce and Endless Mountains Business Association 2020 Legislative Luncheon at the Montrose Bible Conference.
Participants included Sen. Gene Yaw joined Senator Lisa Baker, Representative Tina Pickett and Representative Jonathan Fritz for the event.
During the briefing, Senator Yaw discussed the Governor’s unilateral action and recent vetoes on a number of bills including school sports, expanding restaurant operations, and an effort to prohibit joining the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). Yaw highlighted legislation he sponsored, Senate Bill 1147 that, if approved, will prohibit consideration or adoption of a proposed or final rulemaking that are subject to the Regulatory Review Act during times of a disaster declaration. The bill was introduced in response to the RGGI proposal fast-tracked by the Wolf Administration. Additionally, the legislation would stop state department’s or agencies from holding advisory committee meetings during disaster emergencies, unless the topic specifically deals with the disaster at-hand or are subsequently approved by the appropriate legislative standing committees.
The legislators also fielded several questions from the attendees on recent COVID cases, testing, hospitalization and deaths in Pennsylvania; impacts to the state budget and rebuilding the economy; federal CARES funding, as well as improving broadband across Pennsylvania.
The Montrose Area Chamber of Commerce and Endless Mountains Business Association both work to strengthen the business climate in Susquehanna County and beyond by advocating on behalf of their members – encouraging communication, providing assistance to businesses, providing networking for members, and assisting in community projects.