Mustello Responds to Governor’s Reopening Process

May 1, 2020

Lawmaker urges Wolf to move the 11th District in the ‘yellow phase’

BUTLER – Rep. Marci Mustello (R-Butler) issued the following statement regarding Gov. Tom Wolf’s announcement on which counties and regions would move into the “yellow phase” under his reopening plan.

“I am disappointed and frustrated that my constituents, who are doing their part to combat COVID-19, are still under a stay-at-home order. My constituents should be trusted to make the right decisions when it deals with the health of their families.

“We have flattened the curve in Butler County. In the last two weeks, there have been 26 confirmed cases of the virus, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. My heart goes out to those people across our Commonwealth who are not working and haven’t received a penny of unemployment compensation because of a system that doesn’t perform properly and is mismanaged. 

“Is there a positive to the governor’s reopening plan? The answer is yes. He is easing some of the rigorous guidelines he had previously set in place. However, it is not good enough. How do I articulate a message to my constituents to say other areas of the state can reopen, but we can’t despite having a lower rate of confirmed cases? I am upset with the process; we need to implement another plan that benefits the entire state, not just a select few counties.

“I have heard the many voices of the people who make up the 11th District. They want and need to get back to work and would follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines. We have been given a great deal of information and guidance on how to safeguard ourselves against the disease.

“Why haven’t we moved into the yellow phase? I urge the governor to allow Butler County residents to return to some aspects of normal life.”

Representative Marci Mustello
11th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives