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Posted on 09/29/2020 2:51:32 PM PDT by lightman
U.S. Senator Pat Toomey and other Pa. Republicans in Washington, D.C., have sent a letter to Gov. Tom Wolf asking that he permit fans to attend sporting events in the state this fall amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Fellow members of Congress Dr. Jim Joyce, Brian Fitzpatrick, Fred Keller, Mike Kelly, Dan Meuser, Scott Perry, Guy Reschenthaler, Lloyd Smucker, and Glen Thompson also signed the letter, which reads in part:
“We write today urging you to reconsider your opposition to allowing in-person attendance at school sporting events during the 2020-2021 school year, and with collegiate and professional football safely resuming across the country, we also encourage you to permit attendance at upcoming games. The Commonwealth’s arbitrary 250-person limit on outdoor gatherings is needlessly preventing Pennsylvanians from responsibly enjoying sports events and should be adjusted immediately.”
A federal court ruling earlier this month struck down the Wolf administration’s limits on gatherings and opened the door for some fans to attend high school sporting events in the state, but not every school is opening its gates for things like Friday night football in the same manner, even if the limits of 25 people indoors and 250 outdoors are off the table for now. The ruling is being appealed by the governor, but a stay request has been denied by the same judge who made the initial decision.
Pitt and Temple are both currently playing college football without spectators, and Penn State will do the same starting in late October, although it might be allowed to host some of the team’s family members for home games despite a Big Ten conference rule prohibiting public ticket sales.
In the NFL, the Philadelphia and Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers have also started their respective seasons without fans, but each has expressed hope that a less than the capacity crowd could be admitted somewhere down the road. That said, no matter what Wolf does, both teams play in a county home to a local health department, and thus they would need approval from both that respective office and the state to be allowed to welcome fans again.
Wolf’s spokesperson, Lyndsay Kensinger, sent the following statement to PennLive:
"Our office has received the delegation’s letter. It is disappointing that Senator Toomey is choosing to focus his time on this subject rather than on protecting Pennsylvanian’s healthcare, or on passing a stimulus bill that will protect Pennsylvanians from tax increases or service cuts that will be devastating to middle class families. Our hope is that Senator Toomey will use his position of influence in Washington, as a member of the President’s party and as a member of the Senate Majority, to do something useful with his time like stick up for working class people who are suffering from the crisis caused by this pandemic, rather than critiquing those willing to actually take action to protect Pennsylvanians.
“Pennsylvania businesses and citizens are relying on Senator Toomey to provide them with desperately needed federal financial assistance, and Pennsylvanians need to ensure that the Affordable Care Act is not overturned by the Supreme Court next month in the middle of a pandemic. Senator Toomey is failing Pennsylvanians on both fronts.”
The letter from Toomey and co. can be read in its entirety here.
“School officials' top priority is the safety of their students and the local community,” the Republican group writes. "Certainly, these elected representatives can draft reasonable measures to ensure families and community members can watch a football game while following safety protocols known to help combat the transmission of COVID-19, such as social distancing and the wearing of a mask.
“These commonsense measures coupled with holding events outdoors – where the science tells us the virus is less likely to be transmitted – can assist sporting event planners in minimizing risk to attendees. You recognized this fact when you approved the Carlisle Car Show to allow attendees, of which there were 20,000 each day for four days in June. We urge you to reconsider your policy of arbitrarily allowing certain events to skirt the 250-person rule and instead permit outdoor events of any nature, such as having spectators at sporting events.”
Pennsylvania Ping!
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When you beg “permission” to exercise the RIGHT of assembly the First Amendment is reduced to a privilege.
Most are a bunch of worthless RINOs, particularly Arlen Toomey. Why not focus on fully opening businesses and do that months ago? Sports, meh. Used love them. But they are ruined now by the left.
What the hell? Begging the governor for an indulgence?
Sad. Run him out of office with pitchforks and toast him on a spit. He’s not an emperor.
Free men don’t grovel for God-given RIGHTS!
Rep Wendy Ullman and Gov Tom Wolf caught on hot mic admitting the masks are political theater
Absolutely not.... Until Nov. 4th.
Then, we will reconsider.
Sam Adams
It would be nice to have fans in Beaver Stadium. especially for when the buck nuts arrive.
I just do not get this. If I lived in Pennsylvania, all I would need to see through this ongoing scam is ONE glimpse of the nutcase this evil governor has put in charge of public health. Why is it that the people of Pennsylvania still go along with this charade???
Wolf sez he is not done with the political theater.
Come back 11/4
“Political Theater...”
Governor Wolf 9/29/2020
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