From staff reports
State Sen. Scott Hutchinson, (R-21) of Oil City, is one of four state senators who offered strong support for a lawsuit by Butler, Fayette, Greene and Washington counties against the Wolf administration’s mandatory business closure order.
Hutchinson was joined by Sens. Camera Bartolotta (R-46), Joe Pittman (R-41) and Pat Stefano (R-32).
The suit contends that Wolf’s business shutdown order is unconstitutional and calls for a permanent injunction against its enforcement. Further, the plaintiffs call for the elimination of the “arbitrary and capricious ‘waiver’ system” that allowed some businesses to operate while similar companies were required to stay shuttered.
“The governor’s decisions regarding the continued closure of businesses across the commonwealth have been confusing and frustrating,” Hutchinson said. “It is unfortunate that these counties have been forced to file legal proceedings just to get the relief that should have been granted to them as part of reopening process. Butler County certainly met the administration’s metrics for partial reopening on May 8. It certainly should have been added to the 24 counties that were authorized to ease restrictions,” Hutchinson added.
