Posted on 08/06/2020 2:30:52 PM PDT by lightman
After Gov. Tom Wolf recommended schools hold off on sports until 2021, Republican lawmakers characterized the governor’s decision as out of bounds.
The governor offered his recommendation on high school sports at the end of a news conference Thursday about efforts to increase testing for the coronavirus. The Wolf administration said Thursday afternoon it is a strong recommendation but not an order or mandate. Local school boards could make the final call on sports, the administration said Thursday afternoon.
Last week, the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, the governing body of high school sports, said fall sports could proceed but without spectators.
Jason Gottesman, a spokesman for the Pennsylvania House Republican caucus, said the governor is “off the rails.”
“After repeatedly saying school reopening decisions should be left to local school districts, after the PIAA paved the way for sports to safely resume, after his own Secretary of Health said earlier this week that guidance for PIAA events would be forthcoming, the governor today issued another unilateral ‘recommendation’—made without any advance notice or consultation with the General Assembly—that is devastating for student athletes, parents, and communities,” Gottesman said in a statement.
“In making his announcement, the governor did not justify why a place like Sullivan County that has five confirmed cases, must be treated the same as Allegheny County or Philadelphia. In fact, he provided no data or justification at all,” he added.
State Rep. Rob Kauffman, a Franklin County Republican, said the governor’s recommendation potentially crushes the dreams of families across Pennsylvania.
“Why should their students not be allowed to play football or soccer?” Kauffman said on Facebook. “What will happen to students in Pennsylvania seeking athletic scholarships losing the opportunity to play one last season?”
Over the course of the coronavirus pandemic, the Democratic governor has repeatedly clashed with Republican lawmakers, who control both chambers of the General Assembly.
Republican lawmakers have criticized many of Wolf’s restrictions as overly burdensome and faulted him for not working with the Legislature. Conversely, Wolf has said Republicans have at times pushed to lift coronavirus restrictions in ways that would potentially endanger the public.
‘Moving the goalposts'
State Rep. Torren Ecker, a Republican representing Adams and Cumberland counties, criticized Wolf’s recommendation on delaying sports until the new year. He said sports and extracurricular activities are essential to the lives of high school students.
“What a shame for the thousands of high school seniors and their families,” Ecker said in a statement.
“Keeping people safe is important; however, the governor’s own rules allow outdoor gatherings every day,” Ecker said. “I guess the rules are different when it is inside the gates of a high school stadium. This is yet another example of the governor’s double standard and moving the goalposts, much like what we have seen the past few months.”
State Sen. Scott Martin, a Lancaster County Republican, questioned Wolf’s decision, along with the timing. Martin said if responsible plans have been established for certain sports, they should be allowed to proceed.
“Sadly, Governor Wolf has once again made a pronouncement at the 11th hour and refused to share the underlying data with the public,” Martin said in a statement. “This is, of course, after he entrusted the PIAA and local districts to develop responsible plans that protect the health of our young athletes – something each has been working tirelessly to do.”
Wolf is allowing school districts to make their own decisions about offering face-to-face instruction, remote learning, or some combination to start the school year. Ecker called Wolf’s choice in that area “reasonable and responsible” and argued local school districts should get the freedom to make similar decisions on high school sports and extracurricular activities.
Earlier this week, House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff, R-Centre, and more than 60 Republican lawmakers wrote a letter to the governor asking him to allow parents of high school athletes to attend sporting events. Lawmakers cited several reasons, including the fact that taxpayers support public schools and parents can safely watch games with appropriate safeguards.
On Thursday, Wolf said gatherings for sports - or any activities - increase the risk of spreading the coronavirus.
“We ought to avoid any congregate settings and that means anything that brings people together is going to help that virus get us,” Wolf said at Thursday’s news conference. “And we ought to do anything we can to defeat that virus.”
“So anytime we get together for any reason, that’s a problem because it makes it easier for that virus to spread so the guidance from us, the recommendation is, we don’t do any sports until Jan. 1,” Wolf said.
The Wolf administration said Thursday afternoon the recommendation applies to individual and team sports, as well as scrimmages and intramural sports. The recommendations do not apply to college or professional sports.
Wolf offered his guidance to hold off on sports until 2021 came at the end of his press conference Thursday morning. He offered his recommendation and then concluded the press conference without taking other questions.
Ecker criticized Wolf for ending the press briefing on that note.
“This is yet another example of the governor giving his recommendation but not allowing himself to be held accountable,” Ecker said in a statement.
State Rep. Chris Rabb, a Philadelphia Democrat, offered his support for the governor’s recommendation to ensure the safety of students.
“Good! Postpone them indefinitely!” Rabb said on Twitter, adding, “I want ALL student-athletes safe, rich and poor alike!”
Good! Postpone them indefinitely!
My own 14 y/o #athlete isn’t thrilled about my public (& parental) stance, but I want ALL student-athletes safe, rich & poor alike! #schoolsports #COVID19 https://t.co/QcdeHDho8h — Rep. Chris Rabb (@RepRabb) August 6, 2020
Impact on public opinion?
Despite having to make tough calls on closing businesses and placing restrictions on normal activities to stem the spread of the coronavirus, the governor has managed to maintain strong public support.
A Franklin & Marshall poll found 55 percent of Pennsylvania residents have a favorable opinion of Wolf’s leadership, although most Republicans didn’t give the governor high marks. A Fox News poll in July found 63 percent of Pennsylvania voters approve of Wolf’s performance.
While many voters have stuck with Wolf, the recommendation to hold off on high school sports could weaken his support, said Christopher Borick, a political analyst at Muhlenberg College.
“High school sports, especially high school football, are an enormous part of the culture in Pennsylvania in a lot of communities. The idea you’d have a fall without that happening would certainly be a big hit for a lot of folks,” Borick said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if the governor gets a lot of push back on that and he might on the margin lose some folks that have been with them.”
At the same time, Wolf’s support has held steady even after shutting down many businesses and imposing limits on bars and restaurants. So Borick said it’s conceivable that many will understand the governor’s choice.
“Up to this date, most of the evidence shows Pennsylvanians have continued to largely have confidence and support his actions, that they’re called for,” Borick said. “Maybe on this one, you’ll see the same type of reaction where after people have time to think and get past the emotion, they understand the call."
But as Borick said, “This is a really emotional one.”
PSFCA Director Garry Cathell says spring football ‘will be discussed’ if PIAA cancels fall sports
‘Children need exercise’
The governor’s recommendation likely won’t do much to improve relations with Republicans. State Rep. Jason Ortitay, a Republican who represents part of Allegheny and Washington counties, denounced Wolf’s statement.
“Just like Lucy in Peanuts, Gov. Tom Wolf continues to move the football on Pennsylvania residents with his actions that have no data to back them up,” Ortitiay said in a statement. “This morning, he recommended no high school sports until Jan. 1, 2021, and then took no follow-up questions. For months, student athletes have been practicing and playing club and youth sports like soccer, baseball and basketball without incident.”
Ortitay added, “At what point does stopping the spread become worse than the actual virus? Children need exercise. It is good for their mental health.”
Since the coronavirus pandemic began, more than 116,000 people in Pennsylvania have contracted the coronavirus and nearly 7,300 deaths have been tied to COVID-19, according to the state Department of Health.
This week, some high school conferences announced they were delaying the start of the fall sports seasons. The Mid-Penn Conference said it would delay the fall season until at least Sept. 4, effectively eliminating most non-conference games. The Lancaster-Lebanon league also pushed back the first games into September.
At the college level, some conferences have postponed sports in the fall. The Ivy League and Atlantic 10 conferences said last month they are suspending fall sports. The Centennial Conference, which includes several Pennsylvania colleges, also suspended its fall sports schedule.
Schools across the state are finalizing their plans to begin classes later this month. Many in central Pennsylvania are planning for in-person instruction. Some districts, including Harrisburg, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Allentown, will begin the school year with remote instruction.
A number of schools are also proceeding with hybrid plans, where students would have certain days of face-to-face instruction and remote learning on other days.
Ecker and other lawmakers argue extracurricular activities provide a critical component of the high school educational experience.
“Extracurricular activities, including sports, are intricate to students’ lives,” Ecker said in a statement. “High school sports programs increase the health and wellness of student athletes, teach them leadership skills, and help improve academic success. This will all be lost under Gov. Wolf’s unilateral recommendation to not allow fall sports to be played.”
They’ll use REAL prisons for the unmasked dissenters (like me) since the real prisoners have been turned loose via “compassionate release” to keep THEM “safe” from COVID cooties.
Glad I don’t owe you a keyboard.
Governor Wolf KILLED my mother on 4/22 at the Neshaminy Manor nursing home. My mother was isolated and healthy for 6 weeks when the Chinese Virus was BROUGHT into the facility and to her by untested workers.
He is beneath contempt.
I’m sorry to hear that.
The number of folks less than 20 years old who have been affected with caronavirus who do not already have other very serious complications can probably be counted on 2 hands.
You don’t have a kid dreaming of a 1000 pt HS basketball career.
Perhaps learning math or physics would be a better way to expend his time.
Wolf never can provide justification for what he’s doing to this state! He’s on a political power run to keep this state in a stronghold.
That’s right....and he’ll keep PA in a state of emergency so he can keep that power unchecked.
Happy April Fools, azzholes!
Since then it has ONLY been about:
FLATTEN THE (TRUMP) CAMPAIGN.
STOP THE SPREAD (OF CONSERVATISM).
ELIMINATE THE VIRUS (OF MIDDLE-CLASS ENTREPENEURS)
Thanks for sharing the reality of your grief!
Thanks for sharing the reality of your grief!
Thanks for your ping and reality post!
I am sorry for your loss of your mom.
Well I’ll just say it’s debatable how this virus was sent to us....and they’re not after conservatism they’re after Christianity.
Everything happening is all about stopping Pres. Trump .........and make no mistake he’s the guard at the door of civil society with a mob banging on it to get in.
Dewine has COVID, wonder how he got it?
Ortitay added, “At what point does stopping the spread become worse than the actual virus?
That would be about three months ago.
Maybe 3.5 months ago.
Happy April Fools, azzholes!
Posted by lightman
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