Veto Override Fails In State House

HARRISBURG, Pa. — (WPXI) – Just days after Gov. Tom Wolf vetoed a bill that would have allowed restaurants and other businesses to return to full capacity despite the continued COVID-19 pandemic, the State House failed to override it. The bill, known as HB 2513, was passed in the State House of Representatives on Sept. 23. Under that bill, restaurants, bars, clubs and banquet halls could return to full capacity under each business’ discretion. In the governor’s veto, he said the bill would endanger public health and safety by allowing restaurants to open up to full capacity without regard for state and federal COVID-19 mitigation guidelines. Wolf also said in his letter to state representatives that removing the meal requirement for alcohol consumption “increases the likelihood of COVID-19 outbreaks” in Pa. After the governor vetoed the bill, it went back to state legislature where they need a two-thirds majority to override it. However, the chamber was two votes short of the required count (133-69). Tuesday marked the fourth time the Pa. State House failed to override the governor’s veto.