News & Brews May 7, 2021
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First federal lawsuit filed in relation to massive data breach
Yesterday, WPXI investigative reporter Rick Earle broke the news that the first federal lawsuit has been filed against Department of Health vendor Insight Global in connection to the vendor leaking the private health data of 72,000 Pennsylvanians. Earlier this week, lawmakers had called on Wolf to immediately cancel the contract with Insight Global, while WPXI had also reported that emails they obtained suggest the Department of Health may have been aware of the potential breach as early as February.
Could work search requirements help with high job openings?
Small business owners are reporting record high job openings for the third month in a row, according to a new report from the National Federation of Independent Businesses. The Center Square reports that Pa. House Republicans are working on legislation to reinstate work search requirements for unemployment claims as well as advancing bills to give the legislature more involvement in reviewing and repealing regulations.
Farm Show Complex to reopen…sometime
Minutes before a press conference calling for the reopening of the Pa. Farm Show Complex, the Wolf administration sent out an email indicating it will reopen the complex. No timelines or processes were detailed. Capitolwire reports (paywall) that lawmakers have continued to express frustration with the administration over the management of the $50 million worth of PPE being stored at the complex, which, along with sitting in a flood plain, prevents the planning of some of the biggest ticket events the complex can book.
On May 18, VoteYesPA to save lives and livelihoods
On May 18, voters can approve two proposed constitutional amendments that would restore a legislative check and balance on Gov. Wolf’s (and any future governor’s) emergency powers. Check out VoteYesPA.com, which has resources including a link to request a mail-in ballot, a VoteYesPA sign you can download and print, a sample email businesses can send encouraging others to vote yes on May 18, and more.