(HARRISBURG) – Senate leaders called on Governor Wolf to stop the name-calling and instead engage with local elected officials after the Governor held a press conference where he called local community leaders ‘cowards’ and threatened to withhold funding from local communities, revoke operating licenses from local employers and deny insurance claims.
Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-25) and Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman (R-34) issued the following statement:
“You can only govern to the willingness of the people to be governed. Governor Wolf has lost that.
“Pennsylvania residents have done an outstanding job of rising to the cause of reducing community spread and flattening the curve. Instead of threatening local officials and communities, the Governor should listen to the outcry in response to his dogma.
“Local elected officials are the ones hearing from their neighbors and communities instead of sitting in Harrisburg or on Mount Wolf. Instead of name calling, he needs to follow our lead and engage with local elected officials who are the best measure when it comes to knowing if their communities can return to their livelihoods in a safe way.
“The Senate will move ahead this week with legislation that puts the power to open communities and employers into the hands of local decision-makers who know their area best. Our approach will allow counties – in consultation with local emergency and health officials – to make the best decisions for their communities. This includes allowing employers to reopen if they adhere to Center for Disease Control and Prevention and Pennsylvania Department of Health safety requirements.
“This legislation is not only the right approach, but is the best approach for the public health emergency with which we are dealing.”
Contact:
Kate Flessner – kflessner@pasen.gov
Jenn Kocher – Jkocher@pasen.gov