State Rep. Dawn Keefer, R-York County, and other Pennsylvania Republican lawmakers are seeking an audit of the election before the results are certified.
Posted on 11/10/2020 2:47:33 PM PST by lightman
State Rep. Dawn Keefer, R-York County, and other Pennsylvania Republican lawmakers are seeking an audit of the election before the results are certified.
On another day of record-smashing new COVID-19 cases in Pennsylvania, at least 19 Republican representatives met at the state Capitol, where they ignored the Wolf Administration’s public health orders.
They gathered Tuesday morning in close contact, most without masks, in defiance of the rules posted in the building.
The group of Republicans was holding a press conference to talk about plans for a legislative-led audit of Pennsylvania’s election results. The effort comes days after a President Donald Trumps, who has made baseless claims about fraud in Pennsylvania and other states where he lost, sued the commonwealth.
It also comes weeks after the GOP-controlled General Assembly and the state’s Democratic governor failed to agree on a bill to make it easier for counties to process mail-in ballots after Republicans insisted on banning ballot drop boxes in the same bill.
A placard near one of the state Capitol entrances outlines rules and public health guidelines, including requiring employees to wear masks at all times and urging social distancing.
WITF’s Transforming Health asked them what message they were sending constituents by defying state rules for a public event.
“We are not afraid,” said state Rep. Russ Diamond of Lebanon County, which currently has the fifth-highest infection rate in the commonwealth.
Rep. Dawn Keefer of Cumberland County, who led the event, declined to comment.
“We are here today to discuss the election process,” Keefer said.
The gathering comes as Pennsylvania COVID-19 cases grow exponentially. Tuesday 4,361 people tested positive for COVID-19, the highest daily increase of cases so far. At least 9,603 people have died from the virus in Pennsylvania, including young people and otherwise healthy people.
Scientists are only beginning to understand the long-term effects of the virus. Recent studies show cognitive issues and a mental illness among some of those who suffered from the illness.
Although some lawmakers have consistently ignored the rules, gatherings such as this one are against the law.
The state Department of General Services, which oversees Capitol Police, declined to say whether the rules were being enforced.
Gov. Tom Wolf’s spokeswoman Lyndsay Kensinger said the administration “has consistently asked all Pennsylvanians, including legislators, to follow the secretary of health’s order and wear a mask at all times when in public.”
“It’s disappointing and disgraceful for lawmakers to blatantly disregard this order while in the Capitol or any other public building, putting themselves, their fellow lawmakers, their staffs and journalists covering the General Assembly at risk,” she said, “especially when we have seen the consequences of not wearing a mask: members of the General Assembly have contracted COVID.”
GOP Rep. Paul Schemel of Franklin County is one of them. Schemel, who has since recovered, was among the few lawmakers at the event wearing a mask.
He says he believes he has COVID-19 antibodies, which he thinks would make him less likely to contract the virus again. But, he added he wears a mask as a courtesy to others.
“I know that people are anxious about it,” Schemel said. “I try to put people at ease. To me, that’s just my own expression of charity.”
Schemel was sick for four days in late September and described having a sore throat and a “low-grade fever.”
The 49-year-old lawmaker said he feels good now, though his sense of smell has not fully returned.
He hopes as the election winds down, people will no longer view public health measures such as mask wearing as signs of partisan affiliation.
“We live in a country [where] people enjoy the ability to sort of self-determine on these things,” Schemel said. “It’s been a learning process for all of us.”
State Rep. Dawn Keefer, R-York County, and other Pennsylvania Republican lawmakers are seeking an audit of the election before the results are certified.
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Fastest way to drive case numbers down? STOP TESTING PEOPLE WHO AREN’T SICK! The numbers will fall like a rock! Masks and mandates/lockdowns/distancing clearly aren’t working — and haven’t worked — anywhere!
“Baseless “ has become the new “unexpected “.....
OMG the mask Karen’s are out in full force, didn’t hear a peep about the thousands in the streets celebrating Beijing Biden!! So LOOTERS, PROTESTERS, ARSONISTS PARTIERS fine republicans NO WAY put your DAMN MASK ON!!!!,
Why isn’t Bret hiding in his basement?
The main thing is that the legislators are working to deal with the Democrat Communist Party steal of PA’s electoral votes, as prescribed by the US Constitution.
But these “reporters” and busybodies are trying to nullify that by talking about STUPID MASKS!!!!
PHOOEY!!!!
STOP THE STEAL!!!!
Just in time for the blame trump biden will save us narrative. ONE QUESTION death rates.....any?
Just in time for the blame trump biden will save us narrative. ONE QUESTION death rates.....any?
Notice how they lie. "Otherwise healthy" means they could be old and obese. The only young people who die have other serious conditions. That's in stark contrast to Biden's swine flu which killed 1000 children (under 14).
I’ve noticed that too.
Hospital rates are up .....with what? All the diseases that people didn’t check out because of Covid?
Had a family friend that had stomach pains but was afraid of Covid so wouldn’t get it checked out. When her family forced her to go, she had a horrible pancreatitis and died 72 hours later.
“OMG the mask Karen’s are out in full force”
But not for the mayor of Chicago
http://secondcitycop.blogspot.com/2020/11/covid-is-over.html
Or fatso the Illinois Governor. And the gov is in day three of 14 day quarantine.
He must have needed a drink or three to keep him going.
http://secondcitycop.blogspot.com/2020/11/governor-isolates.html
Like and masses in Washington DC who were celebrating Biden’s “win”?
It is a little known fact that COVID only spreads at Republican events, churches, and bars. However, if you participating in Democrat events, riots, and lootings, COVID is not virulent.
The more you know...
It is a very intelligent virus.
In Pennsylvania it cannot spread in a bar if you are having a meal with your drinks and seated at a table...before 10 PM.
Very interesting, the GOP members fighting for legal ballots are supposed to obey the governor’s dictates but the state elections people are not required to obey their election laws. That’s democrats for you.
And the MSM (PBS affiliate) obsessed on the MASKS rather than the flagrant election fraud.
But people celebrating the Biden ‘win’ have no problems
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