HARRISBURG – State Senator Camera Bartolotta (R-46) released the following statement in response to Governor Tom Wolf’s plan to implement a statewide mandatory masking policy for students and staff in all K-12 schools and childcare providers:
“It is unfathomable that the governor would look us in the eyes less than a month ago and say masks in schools should be a local decision, then hastily break his word today.
“Schools across the Commonwealth have held townhall meetings, heard from parents, teachers and students and made their decisions regarding how to implement safety protocols in their schools based on the local impact COVID-19 is having on its community. Now, Governor Wolf has once again pulled the rug out from under us with his ill-conceived, one-size-fits-all decision for the entire state.
“The medical evidence simply does not justify his policy made at the expense of the health and well-being of our children. They remain far better able to respond to COVID-19 than older adults or people with pre-existing conditions, so compromising their health by requiring them to wear masks is simply foolish, especially given the emotional and developmental concerns of prolonged masking of young children.
“The governor’s decision is yet another overreach of his authority. It is also disappointing the courts have allowed his edicts to continue. I call on my democratic colleagues to work across the aisle to help us enact legislation with a vetoproof majority that will keep the masking of students a local decision.”
CONTACT: Katrina Hanna, 717-787-1463