Warner Issues Statement on Federal Court Ruling Against Wolf, Levine Actions

September 14, 2020

HARRISBURG – Rep. Ryan Warner (R-Fayette/Westmoreland) issued the following statement on the U.S. District Court ruling that actions taken by the Wolf Administration relating to business closures were unconstitutional: 

“Finally. Finally an arm of our judicial branch has had the guts to speak the truth – the actions taken by the Wolf administration relative to the COVID-19 pandemic are in violation of our constitutional rights. 

“The time for the governor’s unilateral emergency powers have long since passed. The orders and guidance issued by the governor and Secretary of Health Rachel Levine have been both inconsistent and hypocritical. One need only look at the business waiver granted to the governor’s former cabinet business, while similar businesses were denied waivers and forced to remain closed, and at the secretary’s removal of her mother from a long-term care facility prior to forcing those facilities to take COVID-19-positive patients. 

“I commend the state and local officials who signed on to the lawsuit – including those in Fayette County – who stood firmly for our citizens and against the administration’s unconstitutional actions.

“These are unprecedented times, but nothing can or should be allowed to overshadow our basic constitutional rights.”

Representative Ryan Warner
52nd Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives