The surge may be coming, Will House Republicans try to reopen Pa. this week? | Monday Morning Coffee

Good Monday Morning, Fellow Seekers.

If, as they say, pictures really do speak 1,000 words, then here, via five Tweets, are about 5,000-ish words on the drama that appears to be set to unfold in the Republican-controlled House this week.

1. Always, always, always read the calendar.

A thread: Obtained this memo from @RepTurzai to all #PaHouse members informing them that House schedule had been altered to add 4/13 (Mon) as a non-voting day, and 4/14 as a voting day. pic.twitter.com/qbQsChxpmV

— ByJohnLMicek (@ByJohnLMicek) April 11, 2020

2. Why that matters:

Note the language: Republicans can move ahead without Democrats if a quorum of at least 102 members are present, opening the door, House sources tell me, to potential mischief.

— ByJohnLMicek (@ByJohnLMicek) April 11, 2020

And, yes, there was some pushback:
Neal Lesher, Turzai’s chief of staff, had some thoughts to share, They were, of course, entirely welcome.

BREAKING. 102 members constitutes a quorum in the PA House of Representatives. The memo clearly states we would prefer to continue to use remote voting. But if the Minority leader objects, we won’t be handing over our Majority. https://t.co/qMQpDkXneJ

— Neal Lesher (@SULesh5) April 11, 2020

3. Why That Math Matters: If Democrats do sit Tuesday out, as some indicated they might, in favor of staying home and helping constituents in some of the state’s most pandemic-afflicted districts, House Republicans would be in a position to push through two pieces of legislation aimed at reopening the state and sending Pennsylvanians back to work. Both are opposed by Gov. Tom Wolf, who has suggested that the state could get hit with a long-awaited surge in cases this week.

There’s this bill, for starters:

One of the big targets still hanging out there is a Turzai-authored bill (HB2400) that would allow the construction industry to reopen. https://t.co/B2kPfU6hba

— ByJohnLMicek (@ByJohnLMicek) April 11, 2020

And also this one:

There is also a previously approved Senate bill, sponsored by @SenatorMensch that would align mandatory business closings with existing federal guidelines. This bill cleared a House committee over the objections of @GovernorTomWolf https://t.co/7z2rqUEQ3z

— ByJohnLMicek (@ByJohnLMicek) April 11, 2020

4. In a conference call with journalists on Friday, Wolf underlined his opposition to any effort to reopen the state before health officials believe it’s safe to do so.

In a conference call Friday with journalists, @GovernorTomWolf made it clear that he's opposed to any effort to reopen businesses right now. pic.twitter.com/EsXS1DeWg0

— ByJohnLMicek (@ByJohnLMicek) April 11, 2020

Some House Democrats interviewed over the weekend believe that Turzai’s power-play is payback for their own parliamentary maneuvering — Democratic leadership later played this down.

5. Earlier in the day on Saturday, Levine, like Wolf, said she understood the desire to get back to work. And while she was encouraged by an apparent flattening of the curve in infections, she also stressed that it was still too soon.

New, from me: #COVID19 in Pa.: @SecretaryLevine outlines factors in reopening state, but ‘We’re not there yet’ https://t.co/6j2yO0jGXu via @penncapitalstar #PaPolitics

— ByJohnLMicek (@ByJohnLMicek) April 11, 2020

Today and tomorrow in the House should be fascinating. Here at the Capital-Star, we’ll be bringing you full coverage.

Our Stuff.
Washington Reporter Allison Stevens leads our coverage this morning with her look at how the COVID-19 pandemic has only widened the broadband gap nationwide and here in Pennsylvania.

Associate Editor Cassie Miller goes deep on the March revenue collections — and what they signal for the budget debate to come — in this week’s edition of The Numbers Racket.

From the weekend:
Stephen Caruso has the heartbreaking story of a central Pennsylvania family who played host to an Italian exchange student, and found they had to send her home to a COVID-19 epicenter.

Washington Correspondent Arianna Skibell takes a look at mail-in balloting, which some warn is not the panacea that some have said it is.

Elizabeth Hardison, who’s become our in-house data expert, walks you through the decision-making process behind our daily map and graphs charting the pandemic.

On our Commentary Page, state Rep. Pat Harkins, D-Erie, argues the case for his bill that would protect retail workers during the pandemic. And one expert argues that this is the worst possible time for healthcare rationing.

Elsewhere.
Pennsylvania wine retailers say they can’t get the state Liquor Control Board to replenish their best bottles, the Inquirer reports.
The Post-Gazette looks at the way lockdown is reshaping public education in the state.
And public school construction projects are restarting in the Lehigh Valley under new guidelines, the Morning Call reports.
The pandemic is threatening the state’s vulnerable dairy industry, PennLive explains.

Here’s your #Harrisburg Instagram of the Day:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B8sIXPIgaHu/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

WHYY-FM has the stories of Philadelphia’s Easter celebrations in lockdown.
Stateline.org explains why the South will be hardest hit by the pandemic.
Roll Call explains how congressional committees are meeting in the midst of the lockdown.

What Goes On.
As noted above, the House comes in for a non-voting session today. The House State Government Committee meets at the call of the chair in the Majority Caucus Room, 140 Main Capitol.
Time TBD: Daily COVID-19 briefing.

Heavy Rotation.
Here’s an old favorite from Sugar that popped up last night on shuffle. It’s “Hoover Dam,” from their amazing debut LP “Copper Blue.”

Monday’s Gratuitous Baseball Link.
Legendary L.A. Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda — wearing a mask — had a pep talk for fans (via Twitter).

A message from Tommy to all of you out there. We are all in this together and we are all ONE team 🙏 pic.twitter.com/fuIpYJsMM4

— AM 570 LA Sports (@AM570LASports) April 11, 2020

And now you’re up to date.