Sep. 22, 2020
HARRISBURG – Rep. Mike Reese (R-Westmoreland/Somerset) issued the following statement today in response to Gov. Tom Wolf’s veto of his legislation to ensure decisions about school sports and activities, including policies regarding spectators, are made at the local level.
“I am deeply disappointed, frustrated and outright angry with the governor’s decision to veto this legislation, which was approved by a healthy bipartisan majority in both the House and Senate. We in the Legislature are the state officials closest to the people of this Commonwealth. Unlike the governor, we take citizens’ phone calls, listen to their concerns, empathize with their frustrations and try as best we can to help them.
“The governor does not have a corner on the market when it comes to caring about people’s health and taking this virus seriously. But what kind of life are we living when we are still separated from our loved ones, denied opportunities to support our children, driving so many small business owners out of business and sending their workers to a wreck of an unemployment compensation system. We MUST find balance and be reasonable in our approach to this virus.
“My bill would have achieved this goal by allowing local school officials to make decisions about their students, activities and spectators based on local conditions relative to the virus. They want nothing more than to give our kids the best educational experience possible, and that includes taking reasonable steps to keep them safe. What does it say to our citizens when their elected school board members are not allowed to make these decisions without intrusion from Harrisburg?
“House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff (R-Centre/Mifflin) has already said the House will call this bill up for a veto override vote next week. It is my hope that all 155 members of the House and 39 members of the Senate who supported this bill the first time around will do so again.”
Representative Mike Reese
59th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Patricia Hippler
717.772.9846
phippler@pahousegop.com
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