Burns joins effort to override veto, fully reopen bars and restaurants
Legislation crucial to help save small businesses
Rep. Frank Burns October 20, 2020 | 6:24 PM
HARRISBURG, Oct. 20 – Today, state Rep. Frank Burns, D-Cambria County, joined a bipartisan group of legislators who attempted to override the governor’s veto of H.B. 2513 and let Pennsylvanians get back to work. Although the effort ultimately failed, Burns said he was confident the move sent a message to the governor.
“Once again, I stood up against Governor Tom Wolf and voted to override his veto of a bill that would have allowed restaurants and bars across our state to open in a safe, smart and fair manner,” Burns said. “I know firsthand how these businesses have struggled under these mandates. It is well past time that we allow them to safely reopen before they are forced to close their doors permanently.”
House Bill 2513 would have set minimum capacity for restaurants and taverns at 50% and would have allowed for a higher capacity if physical barriers are used. It would also have allowed establishments to permit patrons to sit at bars provided they socially distance and would have eliminated the requirement that a meal must be purchased to buy an alcoholic beverage.
Since the start of the pandemic, Burns has consistently voted and advocated to balance the safety of workers and families with the need to allow businesses to safely reopen. He voted more than 30 times to open local businesses, including five times to end the governor's shutdown. He has also consistently and publicly questioned the administration about its response and pressed for more details on the metrics used in making decisions about reopening Pennsylvania’s economy.