State Rep. Doyle Heffley, R-Carbon

“Early on, we agreed with the governor that steps must be taken to slow the spread of COVID-19. As Pennsylvania residents abided by his stay-at-home order and the administration’s regulations, we successfully flattened the curve.

“We also ramped up production of personal protective equipment, ensuring that our hospitals had the supplies they needed and were not overwhelmed by an influx of coronavirus patients.

“The Legislature sought to work together with the governor in safely reopening the economy, but he refused to cooperate. Additionally, the administration’s unemployment benefit programs have failed thousands of state residents who are still waiting to receive the money they are owed.

“It is time to rein in the governor’s executive overreach and for this co-equal branch of state government to take action, which we did with the resolution.

“By taking this step, we can safely get all of Pennsylvania back to work while continuing to follow the recommended social distancing guidelines to keep the virus at bay.”

Sen. John Yudichak, I-Luzerne/Carbon

“From the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, I have urged the governor and my legislative colleagues to work in a collaborative spirit that set aside ideological differences to rally our commonwealth behind common-sense ideas to protect both lives and livelihoods in our efforts to mitigate the spread of the novel coronavirus.

“We have worked together to drive much-needed pandemic related resources to our nursing homes, our hospitals and our communities; however, far too often the administration has opted for unilateral action that pushes the boundaries of its legal authority under an emergency declaration.

“Driven more by ideology than scientific data, the administration has advanced many policies without input from legislative or community leaders that have lacked the necessary transparency to elicit confidence from citizens who have been asked to sacrifice a great deal during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“With nearly 2 million Pennsylvanians forced out of work and more than a half a million businesses closed down, taxpayers are demanding and deserve a state government that works together in the face of an emergency.

“The actions taken by the Senate would, through a joint resolution with the House of Representatives and an amendment to the Pennsylvania Constitution, terminate the governor’s emergency declaration and advance constitutional language that any future emergency declaration beyond a 30-day order would require the approval of the General Assembly.

“Crisis demands collaboration, and House Resolution 836 and Senate Bill 1166 would simply set the stage for a collaborative framework that requires our elected leaders to work together to protect and empower citizens in the face of this emergency and all future emergencies.”

State Rep. Jack Rader, R-Monroe

“House Resolution 836 effectively ends the shutdown that has hurt families and crippled businesses in the 176th Legislative District and statewide.

“We have all worked hard to flatten the curve and will continue to follow the social distancing guidelines to prevent a spike of the virus. The time is right to fully and safely reopen our commonwealth.”

“The Senate, in a vote of 31-19, passed House Resolution 836 to terminate the governor’s COVID-19 disaster declaration. Sen. David G. Argall, a prime sponsor of similar legislation, spoke in support of this legislation on the floor of the Senate. The bill is now pending in the House.

State Sen. David Argall, R-29th

“The people we represent did not consent to one man’s orders to remain locked up in their homes, limited to government handouts.

“We all heard from many people who wanted to safely begin to return to work, small businesses wanting to reopen, just like their big business competitors down the street. And we’ve listened carefully to medical experts throughout this terrible experience.

“In the past few weeks, many of us, and our constituents, have said the same thing, based on our experiences during this pandemic: The governor is not a thug. He’s not a dictator. He’s a governor, he’s not a king.”