May. 01, 2020
ALTOONA – Earlier today, Gov. Tom Wolf announced 24 counties will begin to reopen starting May 8. In response to Blair County not among the counties, Rep. Lou Schmitt (R-Blair) issued the following statement:
“I am bitterly disappointed that the governor has decided to implement an illogical plan to begin reopening Pennsylvania that totally ignores the personal and economic sacrifices made during the months of March and April by the good citizens of Blair County.
“In his address, the governor stated that his reopening plan was based on low per-capita virus case counts and because ‘we’re ready’ to begin to reopen the 24 counties identified. The governor’s reopening rationale collapses under the weight of its own inconsistencies.
“Blair County has a per-capita virus case count which is equal to or less than the vast majority of the 24 counties that on May 8 will transition from red to yellow ahead of it.
“It is beyond comprehension that the Wolf administration by this point is not ready for some unknown reason to begin to ease restrictions on counties in our region such as Blair. It makes even less sense that the citizens of Blair County who have so faithfully followed required safety practices to this point are themselves not ready to reopen, and to do so responsibly.
“I realize that this is a first step in the governor’s reopening plan. The governor stated in his address that counties in our own Southcentral region will be considered next. I intend to hold him to that statement and to continue to advocate for the easing of restrictions in Blair County as soon as possible.
‘The governor has done a distinct disservice to the hard-working taxpayers and business owners of Blair County by virtue of implementing a reopening plan that is both unfair and inconsistent.”
Representative Lou Schmitt
79th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Greg Gross
717.260.6374
ggross@pahousegop.com
RepLouSchmitt.com / Facebook.com/RepSchmitt