Soon after Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf delivered a public temper tantrum over the counties defying his endless Stay at Home order, Republican State Sen. Dave Argall fired back.
Argall, who represents Schuylkill County and part of Berks County, told The Canary, “Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic the public has tried to offer its expertise to help aid the Governor in protecting peoples’ health and livelihoods.”
State Sen. Argall Responds to Governor’s Temper Tantrum
On Saturday, Schuylkill County officials said they’re defying the governor’s decision to keep the area under the Red phase of the coronavirus pandemic response.
That letter followed a Friday message to Wolf saying they wanted him to reconsider his decision to not move Schuylkill County to the Yellow phase. Yellow would allow most in-person retail and relax the Stay at Home order in place since the beginning of April.
The letter included promises to follow the guidelines for businesses operating under the Yellow phase of the state’s phased reopening plan.
However, during Monday’s crabby virtual press briefing, Wolf called counties like Schuylkill going it alone and making their own call to go to the Yellow phase “cowardly” and “selfish” and “immoral”.
Wolf was mad that some Pennsylvanians didn’t trust him anymore and had no confidence in his reopening plan. Argall says it’s been like that with Wolf since the beginning of the pandemic response.
“Time and time again, the Governor made it clear that he did not care about other points of views in light of the pandemic,” Argall tells The Canary. “In a secretive process, he granted certain waivers to some employers while denying waivers to others.
“When counties and employers try to adapt to the Governor’s and the CDC’s standards, they either must wait for the Governor’s permission to move forward or are harshly criticized by the Governor,” Argall says.
“Never Thought I Would See the Day”
The longtime Schuylkill County voice in Harrisburg, Argall took particular exception to Wolf’s name-calling during Monday’s pissy presser.
“I never thought I would see the day when a Governor would call residents and employers who want to provide for themselves as ‘selfish’ and ‘cowardly’,” Argall says.
He added, “Today, several of my colleagues in the Senate’s leadership stated it well: ‘Local elected officials are the ones hearing from their neighbors and communities instead of sitting in Harrisburg or on Mount Wolf. Instead of name calling, he needs to follow our lead and engage with local elected officials who are the best measure when it comes to knowing if their communities can return to their livelihoods in a safe way’.”
FOR MORE:
- Coronavirus in Schuylkill County
- 19 Different Hand Washing Songs for the Coronavirus Outbreak
- Wolf Lied About Hair Salons and Barbers Opening in the Yellow Phase
- Schuylkill County Loses Chinese Virus Lockdown Lottery – Still in Time Out
- Despite Threats to Food Supplies, Goodman Votes Against Re-Opening Garden Centers
- Argall, Knowles Urge AG William Barr to Investigate Wolf Power Grab During Pandemic
- Wolf Backpedals on Regional Pennsylvania Map Being Used in Coronavirus Decisions
- Knowles, Tobash Back Bill to Re-Open Real Estate Businesses in PA – Goodman Says No
- PA Opens a Coronavirus Snitch Line for Social Distance Warriors
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