The state House of Representatives did not garner enough votes during a special session Wednesday to override Gov. Tom Wolf's veto of a bill that would have allowed school districts to set spectator limits for athletic events.

Representatives voted 130-71 in favor of the legislation, but a two-thirds majority, or 135 votes, was needed to override the veto that Wolf signed Monday.

House Bill 2787 would have allowed districts to determine the number of fans allowed to attend athletic events. It passed the House and Senate. The House had a two-thirds majority Sept. 2 when it voted 155-47 in favor of the bill.

“What happened today, it was really politics overdoing what's right,” said Rep. Marci Mustello, R-11th, referring to the 24 Democratic House members who changed their votes.

She said the bill would have given the power to decide on event attendance to school boards.

“That's what we elect school boards to do. They can make their own decision for their students and their families. The failure of the veto was extremely disappointing,” Mustello said.

She said she attended the Butler Area High School Golden Tornado home football game Friday and commended Superintendent Brian White and the school board for allowing some fans in the stadium.

“Dr. White did a fantastic job and the board made the right decision. Let these families watch these children. I give a lot of credit to the Butler (Area) School District,” Mustello said.

She also commended the Karns City Area School District for allowing fans to attend football games

“Our only saving grace,” Mustello said, is a federal judge's recent ruling that Wolf's orders limiting outdoor gatherings to 250 is unconstitutional. “Thank goodness we have that. His ruling still stands.”

Wolf's orders also required people to stay home and businesses to close to avoid the spread of COVID-19. The judge found those orders unconstitutional as well.

The same federal judge, U.S. District Court Judge William Stickman IV, on Tuesday ruled against Wolf's petition for a stay of the ruling.

The lawsuit against Wolf's orders was filed by Butler attorney Tom King on behalf of Butler and three other counties, four Republican lawmakers and several small businesses.