Pittsburgh Review

This week, the General Assembly held their last scheduled legislative session of the year in Harrisburg, and Republican lawmakers are getting heat from Gov. Tom Wolf, who expressed his disappointment on their inaction.

“As the 2021-22 legislative session draws to a close, it’s extremely disappointing that measures  that would have lifted up Pennsylvanians, strengthened democracy through important election reforms, and improved public health and safety in our communities  will not be addressed,” Wolf said in a release on the governor's website. “Yet again, Republicans in the General Assembly have failed to prioritize the real needs of Pennsylvanians.”

Wolf noted that there are $100 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds, which were appropriated four months ago, that need to be used for initiatives like supporting behavioral health services.

“Individuals who need these services can’t wait and this inaction is a blatant disregard for vulnerable constituents and the mental health care system,” Wolf said. “My administration fully supports the commission’s recommendations and applauds the commission’s swift work to provide thoughtful and comprehensive recommendations to the legislature that are widely supported by stakeholders.”

Wolf said that while Republicans say they are tough on crime, they did not pass “common sense” bills to stop gun violence through regulating assault weapons, storage of firearms and other protections.

Wolf also spoke about the state’s “embarrassingly low minimum wage” and his proposal to send $2,000 direct payments to households. He said residents of Pennsylvania are struggling with rising costs and these are aspects needed to be tended to.

There were voting barriers that Wolf said the General Assembly did not address, as well. This includes 21 days of canvassing which was requested by county officials and was not voted upon for passage.

Wolf also said there were proposed regulations for the list of “Protected Classes” in the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act and Pennsylvania Fair Educational Opportunities Act that did not go forward. This included adding words like “sex,” “race” and “religious creed” to protect against discrimination.

“I have made it my priority to focus on the issues that make Pennsylvanians’ lives better and although my time left in office is limited, I will continue to prioritize this great commonwealth and all of our constituents,” Wolf said.