GOP leaders criticize last mask term | News, Sports, Jobs

[ad_1]

BELLEFONTE – Mandatory masks will return to schools in Pennsylvania on Tuesday, September 7.

Earlier this week, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf announced that masking would be mandatory in all public and private schools in the state, as well as day care centers.

The announcement was widely criticized by Republicans in the General Assembly, including two high-ranking Center County lawmakers.

“Protecting the health and safety of our children is always a primary consideration for lawmakers on both sides of the aisle,” Pro Tempore Senate Speaker Jake Corman (R-Benner Township) said in a statement. Press. “However, this is exactly the kind of government overrun voters opposed when they stripped Governor Wolf of the power to unilaterally extend emergency declarations in May.”

Corman added that it is “completely fallacious for (Gov. Wolf) to turn around now”. He noted that during the summer months, Governor Wolf said it was best to leave the decision to local officials based on current data.

“The timing of this announcement is also extremely problematic,” Corman said. “Over the past month, school board meetings have turned into public spectacles with school board principals, parents, teachers and community members hurling insults and accusations. It is disappointing that Governor Wolf stood idly by and let our communities tear each other apart by this debate, only to then cut everyone’s rug at the last minute. Our school boards deserve an apology for the governor’s dereliction of duty.

Corman also questioned Beam’s power to enforce a mandatory masking order. The Wolf administration said in a statement that the health secretary was empowered by the Disease Control and Prevention Act and the action was taken because “Republican leaders refused to act” when they were asked to pass legislation for a mask warrant.

“If Governor Wolf really believed he had this authority, then he wouldn’t have asked the General Assembly to implement a mask mandate last week,” Corman said.

State House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff (R-Bellefonte) joined Corman in condemning the mandate, saying the decision should rest with “local control that reflects realities on the ground.”

“History shows that a unique approach to public health causes more anxiety and frustration than decisions made at the local level with local input,” Benninghoff said. “In addition, local control worked. School boards and local governments have listened to families and individuals and made decisions that best meet the needs of their community and reflect their community values.

Benninghoff added that House Republicans “are already seriously considering potential legislative changes to address the abuse of the current law by this administration.”

“We share the goal of promoting public health and ending this pandemic as quickly as possible,” Benninghoff said. “As we review the details of this mandate, all options remain on the table.”

Representative Stephanie Borowicz (R-Clinton / Center) made the following statement on her Facebook page: “Mandates are NOT law. This is not how it works in America. The governor tried to call us back to mandate the masks through legislation, we said NO… now he’s going around the legislature. When people stand up and refuse to comply, it ends.

However, the mandate was not filled with complete negativity.

The Pennsylvania State Education Association has taken the opposite position. According to PSEA President Rich Askey, the masking warrant is long overdue.

“The PSEA supports the Wolf administration’s ordinance (Tuesday) requiring universal masking in all school buildings from Kindergarten to Grade 12. Months ago, the PSEA said that a full and safe return to in-person teaching should be our top priority for the 2021-2022 school year. Hiding in our schools is a simple and proven way to help make this a reality, ”Askey said in a press release.

According to Askey, the masking kept many schools open last year.

“Last year, we put maximum protection effort – including masking – to minimize the spread of a dangerous but less contagious variant of COVID-19,” Askey said. “Reports of schools in other states shutting down or quarantining large numbers of students due to the more contagious Delta variant show that it is just too risky to teach students in person with much less. protections than the ones we used last year. “

The latest news today and more in your inbox

[ad_2]