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In the spirit of political partnership and sorely-needed bipartisan cooperation, we suggest voters on Tuesday provide checks and balances when it comes to emergency disaster declarations and vote yes on the two ballot questions addressing this very important issue.
We ask: How has the past year-plus gone for you? Have you had to face furloughs or educate your children remotely at home, all the while trying to work yourself and keep an income coming in?
Has your workplace or business been forced to close, at least temporarily?
Are you satisfied with the state of Pennsylvania, in general, since state-mandated closures and restrictions of all varieties began in mid-March 2020?
What opinions do you have about a single political leader having pretty much sole authority to make decisions that impact your life for such long periods of time?
And while the primary election by and large is about nominating Democratic and Republican candidates for elected office, this Primary Election on Tuesday includes four ballot questions that all registered voters get to answer.
The first two are of paramount importance, given the year we've just been through.
Question one would allow the Legislature to terminate or extend a disaster emergency declaration.
It asks: "Shall the Pennsylvania Constitution be amended to change existing law and increase the power of the General Assembly to unilaterally terminate or extend a disaster emergency declaration -- and the powers of Commonwealth agencies to address the disaster regardless of its severity pursuant to that declaration -- through passing a concurrent resolution by simple majority, thereby removing the existing check and balance of presenting a resolution to the Governor for approval or disapproval?"
To that, we say, vote YES.
The second question would limit a disaster emergency declaration and involve the Legislature in its management.
It asks: "Shall the Pennsylvania Constitution be amended to change existing law so that: a disaster emergency declaration will expire automatically after 21 days, regardless of the severity of the emergency, unless the General Assembly takes action to extend the disaster emergency; the Governor may not declare a new disaster emergency to respond to the dangers facing the Commonwealth unless the General Assembly passes a concurrent resolution; the General Assembly enacts new laws for disaster management?"
Again, we say, vote YES.
Both measures are needed to prevent any governor in the future from having sole authority during a prolonged emergency such as we've been navigating for well over a year.
With due respect, while the response from Gov. Tom Wolf started strong, it subsequently melted into conflicting edicts on restrictions that made the playing field unequal to small businesses vs. larger ones.
The term "essential' took on a variety of definitions, much to the chagrin of various small businesses and people in general.
The decision-making at the state level came off as flying by the seat of their pants at times and the Legislature was left without power for a prolonged period of time.
We understand this pandemic has been a moving target.
We just prefer a cooperative approach to dealing with it.
It's time to restore the balance in state government and give voice to all of us through our elected representatives.
It's time to vote YES on these ballot questions.
It will be one thing to approve these amendments by majority vote, but it will send a strong message to Harrisburg and the governor's mansion if voters turn out in huge numbers -- just as huge as the numbers are when we turn out for a presidential election -- and approve these ballot questions this Tuesday.
So get out.
Vote.
Vote YES. And YES again.
And place a much needed check on executive power, lest that overreach send us spiraling backward again.