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State Chapters => State Politics/Government => Topic started by: Right_in_Virginia on May 11, 2020, 08:08:29 pm

Title: Gov. Tom Wolf warns of consequences for Pennsylvania counties planning to reopen early
Post by: Right_in_Virginia on May 11, 2020, 08:08:29 pm
Gov. Tom Wolf warns of consequences for Pennsylvania counties planning to reopen early
WGAL News 8, May 11, 2020

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf issued a warning Monday about the consequences for counties and businesses that plan to reopen in defiance of his shutdown order.

State lawmakers and county leaders in several Susquehanna Valley counties have sent Wolf letters informing him of their intention to move to the yellow phase of his reopening plan, with or without his permission.

Wolf said during a news conference that the state must stay the course in its fight against the coronavirus.

"Over this past weekend, some have decided to surrender to this enemy. These are politicians who were elected to serve their fellow citizens. Others are business owners who have chosen to serve their customers by putting them in harm's way. These folks are choosing to desert in the face of the enemy, in the middle of a war that we Pennsylvanians are winning and that we must win," Wolf said.

Wolf said reopening decisions are based on the advice of scientists, medical professionals, and the state’s epidemiologists. Case counts, modeling, geographic location, contact tracing and testing capabilities are taken into account, Wolf said. Each county is considered individually before it is placed in the red, yellow or green phases.

“I cannot allow residents in a red county to get sick because their local officials can’t see the invisible risk of the virus in their community. So, I must and I will impose consequences if a county locally lifts restrictions when it has not yet been given the go-ahead by the state," Wolf said.

The governor outlined the following consequences for counties and businesses that do not remain closed:


More: https://www.wgal.com/article/gov-tom-wol...early/32435607# (https://www.wgal.com/article/gov-tom-wol...early/32435607#)
Title: Re: Gov. Tom Wolf warns of consequences for Pennsylvania counties planning to reopen early
Post by: Right_in_Virginia on May 11, 2020, 08:12:59 pm
Quote
Gov. Tom Wolf denounces Pa. counties reopening without his approval as ‘cowardly,’ ‘selfish’
Threatens to yank coronavirus aid if counties reopen in defiance of state shutdown orders
Pittsburg Post Gazette, May 11, 2020

HARRISBURG — Gov. Tom Wolf issued a stern rebuke against Pennsylvania counties and businesses that plan to reopen without state approval, calling it a “cowardly act” that could cost those areas not only lives but federal stimulus money, too.

Over the past week, a host of lawmakers, district attorneys, and law enforcement agencies in counties still under strict COVID-19 closure orders said they planned to defy Mr. Wolf and unilaterally move themselves to the next phase of the governor’s reopening plan. State officials have given 37 counties the go-ahead to ease restrictions, lifting the stay-at-home order and allowing some businesses to reopen if they follow certain safety precautions.

“These folks are choosing to desert in the face of the enemy. In the middle of a war that we Pennsylvanians are winning, and that we must win,” Mr. Wolf said at a news conference Monday. “They need to understand the consequences of their cowardly act.”

Mr. Wolf said counties that reopen without state approval could be denied their share of discretionary funding from the federal stimulus. Businesses in these areas that resume operations risk losing state certifications required to operate.

“The funding we have put aside to help with fighting this crisis will go to the folks who are doing their part,” Mr. Wolf said. “To the politicians urging businesses to risk their lives, and to risk the lives of their customers or employees by opening prematurely, you need to understand that they are engaging in behavior that is both selfish and unsafe.”


More:  https://www.post-gazette.com/news/health/2020/05/11/Governor-Wolf-pennsylvania-response-counties-reopening-pandemic/stories/202005110070 (https://www.post-gazette.com/news/health/2020/05/11/Governor-Wolf-pennsylvania-response-counties-reopening-pandemic/stories/202005110070)

Title: Re: Gov. Tom Wolf warns of consequences for Pennsylvania counties planning to reopen early
Post by: PeteS in CA on May 11, 2020, 08:15:22 pm
Does he think he has the resources to take on 1/3 or 1/2 the counties in the state? It may not yet be at that point, but the tighter he squeezes the more jurisdictions he turns against him.
Title: Re: Gov. Tom Wolf warns of consequences for Pennsylvania counties planning to reopen early
Post by: txradioguy on May 11, 2020, 08:17:12 pm
I see that the Pennsylvania Governor is channeling his inner Pritzker
Title: Re: Gov. Tom Wolf warns of consequences for Pennsylvania counties planning to reopen early
Post by: txradioguy on May 11, 2020, 08:19:27 pm
Does he think he has the resources to take on 1/3 or 1/2 the counties in the state? It may not yet be at that point, but the tighter he squeezes the more jurisdictions he turns against him.

IMHO I don't think he cares about 1/2 the counties in the state.  Libs control the big metro areas and the state capitol and that's all that matters.  Those are the areas that will bend to his will and where he will get the money from because the Liberals mayors will play ball with him.

It's the same in any state run by a Liberal.
Title: Re: Gov. Tom Wolf warns of consequences for Pennsylvania counties planning to reopen early
Post by: LegalAmerican on May 11, 2020, 08:20:28 pm
Time to remove that ahole with a pitchfork. 

See?  White person.  I don't discriminate based on race. I don't like aholes of any color.  People don't get that.  That is treating all people equally. 
Title: Re: Gov. Tom Wolf warns of consequences for Pennsylvania counties planning to reopen early
Post by: LegalAmerican on May 11, 2020, 09:20:19 pm
I love these guys.  Real truth-tellers. 

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