As Pa.’s economy stalls, lawmakers hear of human toll
The shutdown of businesses in Pennsylvania ordered by Gov. Tom Wolf due to the coronavirus crisis is not only having a catastrophic effect on the state’s economy, but also is causing a drastic increase in suicides and drug overdoses.
Gene Barr, who heads the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, said that for every 1 percent increase in the unemployment rate, there has been a 1 percent increase in suicides and a 3.3 percent increase in drug overdoses.
His comments came in a joint public hearing on the Wolf administration’s COVID-19 response this week.
“This is unprecedented, and it’s a time none of us have never seen,” Barr said at the hearing, hosted by Sen. Tom Killion, R-9th, of Middletown, and several of his colleagues. “This is a balancing act not just between health and the economy, but there’s health and economy on both sides. In terms of keeping our citizens safe, the cost to the health industry are significant. The cost to the economy is tremendous, some of it is almost catastrophic. But there is a human cost in terms of the economy.”
Barr said it’s important that lawmakers push to get liability protection for doctors, hospitals, health care workers and industries who make Personal Protective Equipment. “We don’t want them to suffer unduly from any threat of litigation unfairly,” he said. So far, more than 34,000 Pennsylvanians have tested positive for coronavirus, 2,700 remain hospitalized, and 1,385 people have lost their lives, including almost 800 residents of nursing and assisted living homes. During opening remarks, Killion echoed Barr’s opinion that reopening the economy will need to be done responsibly, balancing the needs to restart the economy with the health and welfare of residents. “I am grateful for Gov. Wolf’s commitment to protecting the health and lives of Pennsylvanians,” Killion said. “I do not question that his decisions to close down much of the commonwealth were correct and saved lives. However, as legislators we have an obligation to our constituents to exercise our oversight responsibility. That obligation cannot be suspended by an emergency. Indeed, during exceptional times, it is important that we exercise that responsibility with even greater diligence.” Gordon Denlinger, a former Republican member of the House of Representatives and state director of the National Federation of Independent Business with 13,000 members across the state, called for transparency and focused vision to get the state’s economy back on track. “We believe the Wolfe administration has worked to protect the lives and public health with the best of motivations,” he said. “But the closure process was reactive and chaotic in nature and the waiver process essentially broke down. There was a lack of transparency on who received what, and a bias toward box chains. “People need hope and vision and it falls to us as leaders in business and industry to step forward with vision and optimist and help to pave the way to a future with strong resurgence and resurgence of our state’s economy.” Killion too, called for transparency. “The decision to reopen the commonwealth affects the lives and long-term economic well-being of our citizens,” he said. “I am encouraged that such a decision will be made collaboratively and with the highest degree of transparency.” Earlier this week, Wolf announced three actions including online sales of vehicles, restart of construction projects statewide starting Friday, May 8, and curbside pickup of wine and spirits at select Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board locations. State Sen. Mike Regan, R31st Dist., said at the hearing he was happy that Wolf is phasing in some businesses to return to work. “I am pleased that some areas of business are on track to reopen, albeit in a modified way — including construction and auto sales — and I certainly hope we will see the same for the real estate industry, garden centers, and all of the small businesses that have been put on hold but could operate safely utilizing CDC guidelines,” Regan said. Senate Bill 841 signed into law approves qualified Pennsylvania notaries public to perform remote online notarizations, which will allow auto dealerships to conducted limited car sales and leasing operations through online sales, as a notary is required to complete the transaction. “Today’s hearing was an affirmation of our shared commitment to protect the health and welfare of our fellow Pennsylvanians and safely restart our economy,” stated Killion. “I’m grateful to the representatives of Pennsylvania’s business community and the administration officials who offered testimony.”