Nov. 27, 2020
HARRISBURG – After not receiving pertinent information from the Pennsylvania Department of Health through a Right-to-Know (RTK) request, Rep. Seth Grove (R-Dover) has filed an appeal with the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records.
Previously, Grove sought through a series of RTKs filed with the department the specific data and models it used for every COVID-19 mitigation order. The response he received from the department was an internet link to its current COVID-19 data website. The link supplied by the department did not, by any means, provide Grove with the requested information.
“This is in direct violation of Act 77 of 2020, which clearly states the Department of Health is to provide the exact data and models used to make decisions under emergency declarations. Pennsylvanians have a right to understand why, under unilateral executive authority, the executive branch is making the decisions and why they have made decisions,” Grove said. “Further, it is imperative we have a full accounting of executive actions to review how and why decisions were made in order to learn and adopt policies around health-related emergencies.”
The Office of Open Records, which received the appeal on Nov. 20, is expected to issue its ruling in the coming weeks.
Representative Seth Grove
196th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives