Congressman Fred Keller responds to Gov. Wolf’s threat to withhold funding and protections from PA counties and businesses
Says Governor Wolf is the one putting businesses, citizens at risk
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Fred Keller (R-PA) on Monday responded to Gov. Tom Wolf’s press conference during which the governor called Pennsylvania elected officials and business owners standing up for individual rights “cowards” and threatened to withhold federal funds and liability protections from counties and businesses that choose to begin to re-open.
In response to the press conference, Congressman Fred Keller (R-PA) made the following statement:
“Trying to feed your family is not ‘cowardly.’ The vast majority of Pennsylvanians rely on their jobs to put food on the table and pay their bills. Because of Gov. Wolf’s prolonged shutdown order, nearly 2 million Pennsylvanians, or 26 percent of our state’s workforce, are unemployed, and overdose and suicide deaths are rising. Pennsylvanians have shown they can safely shop and work in mega-retailers while the Governor unilaterally keeps small businesses closed and is now threatening them if they re-open. Despite what Gov. Wolf believes, Pennsylvania’s small business owners and workers are smart enough to operate safely and feed their families.”
News Talk 104.1 asked Governor Wolf about withholding funding earlier today.
Question: Gov. Wolf, can you clarify your earlier statements, your administration will withhold state funding and possible federal CARES Act funding if counties open in defiance of your orders?
Wolf replied:
“Again there’s certain Cares Act funding that goes to specific areas and counties and that is designated by the federal government and money that is intended from the Cares Act to go to healthcare facilities that are actually treating the patients that’s going to go.
What I was talking about was any discretionary dollars that depends on the County’s participating in this world that we’re all fighting.
We can’t afford to have people desert and and so the reward for it for desertion cannot be that you’re just like everybody else and get get the discretionary funding.
Discretionary funding will go to those places that are doing everything they got to do to keep their citizens safe.”
The governor outlined the following consequences to counties that do not abide by the law to remain closed:
- Counties will not be eligible for federal stimulus discretionary funds the state receives and intends to provide to counties with populations of fewer than 500,000.
- Businesses in counties that do not abide by the law will no longer be eligible for business liability insurance and the protections it provides. The Pennsylvania Department of Insurance released details of this earlier today.
- Restaurants that reopen for dine-in service in counties that have not been authorized to reopen will be at risk of losing their liquor license.
- County residents receiving unemployment compensation will be able to continue to receive benefits even if their employer reopens. Employees may choose not to return out of concern for personal safety and safety of co-workers.
Congressman Keller, added “The only person who has surrendered to the virus is Governor Wolf. By constantly moving the goalposts and not allowing Pennsylvanians the option of supporting themselves, he is denying Pennsylvanians their freedom, exacerbating the societal effects of this virus, and creating a situation where the cure is worse than the disease.”
Stay tuned to News Talk 104.1 & 1600 WEJS and talkwilliamsport.com for developments on this story.
