Wolf set to veto bill about school sports
As Gov. Tom Wolf plans to veto another coronavirus-related bill, a Butler County representative said it's another example of his politics getting in the way of progress.
“I just wish he would rethink this one along with other ones that he's vetoed,” said state Rep. Marci Mustello, R-11th, “I wish he would work with the Legislature to come up with solutions.”
In an unrelated news conference Wednesday, Wolf said he will veto House Bill 2787, which would give a school district or private school sole authority to decide whether and how to conduct sports during the 2020-21 school year. It also gives schools the power to determine safety protocol and crowd limits.
“I think the virus is real. The virus is out there, and we have to recognize that,” he said. “I don't see why this bill adds anything to the safety, health, economic or educational value of Pennsylvania.”
Mustello said she has always favored the idea of personal responsibility over restrictive measures taken by the governor's administration.
“You'll take the safety precautions necessary to see your child play,” she said. “Let us be responsible for ourselves.”
The bill passed the state Senate on Wednesday, 39-11, a week after it passed the House, 155-47. Both chambers approved it by veto-proof two-thirds majorities.
According to a Thursday news release from Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman, R-34th, the state constitution dictates that if and when the bill is vetoed, it will go back to the House where it originated, then the Senate, where it would need a two-thirds vote from both to override the governor's decision.
“For the sake of students, parents and communities, we need to pass this legislation and leave local decisions in the hands of the people who know best and are the most impacted,” said Corman in the release.
Wolf said the bill was unnecessary because “school districts already have local control on decisions on school sports,” and he suggested that it was irresponsible because it would allow districts to green-light big crowds at sporting events that help spread the virus.
“This bill gives (schools) the unilateral authority to suspend the rules that we put into place saying you can't have more than a certain number of people congregating in any one place,” he said. “That's willfully ignoring the reality that the virus really likes it when people get together.”
Wolf has ordered crowds at school sports kept to statewide gathering limits of 25 people indoors and 250 people outdoors.
Despite the majority votes, Wolf said he was confident his veto would hold, and when prodded by a media question, said he has not considered canceling the fall sports season if the bill survives his veto.
“I really haven't thought about that because, I can't conceive of an overriding of this veto,” he said. “This really doesn't make sense.”
Majority Republicans had introduced the legislation last month after Wolf issued a “strong recommendation” that all youth athletics be canceled until 2021 to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Some districts and leagues in the state, including Summit Academy in Butler County, have already canceled fall sports, fearing the spread of the virus.
But other schools in the county and state are still planning to play, even despite some teams having experienced cases of COVID-19.
Mustello said schools are as unique as their students, and imposing restrictions in a blanket fashion is unfair, especially to the schools in Butler County.
“Schools can handle anything. I have full faith in every school district in this county,” Mustello said. “Allow the school districts to do what works for each of them.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
