The Republican controlled General Assembly passed a resolution late Tuesday night to terminate Governor Tom Wolf’s Emergency Declaration issued in March and extended earlier this month as the legal basis for the states coronavirus related shutdown. 

The state Senate passed the resolution 31-19 with two Democrats joining the effort. Locally, state Senator Tommy Tomlinson voted for, with his colleague Steve Santarsario voting against. 

Shortly after the Senate vote, the state House took up the resolution on concurrence passing it 121-81. 

Locally, State Representatives voted along party lines: Democrats Tina Davis, John Galloway, Perry Warren, Wendy Ullman, voted no. Republicans, Frank Farry and K.C Tomlinson voted in favor of. 

Multiple published reports say Wolf will essentially veto the effort.

Meanwhile House Majority Leader Bryan Cutler (R-Peach Bottom) said in a release Tuesday night

“Since early March, Pennsylvanians across the Commonwealth have dealt with the heavy hand of government as a result of this declaration,” House Majority Leader Bryan Cutler (R-Peach Bottom) said. “The governor has used the power afforded to him under this declaration without input from the Legislature, suspending state laws, spending money without legislative approval, and his most unfair action of all, shutting down the family-sustaining careers of millions of Pennsylvanians.”

Republicans have argued for weeks that title 35 of the state code says the governor shall sign that ends the disaster declaration, he has no choice but to sign off on the resolution since passage by both chambers essentially ends the declaration.

Democrats, however, contend that  Article III, section 9 of the state constitution, says for any concurrent resolution to have the force of law, a signature by the governor or a two-thirds override by both chambers of the legislature is required.

Wolf spokesperson Lyndsay Kensinger told the PAPost the governor will disapprove (effectively veto) the resolution, but said that, even if it were to take effect, it would not affect the administration’s phased reopening plan.