May. 01, 2020
HARRISBURG - Pennsylvania is a diverse state with 67 diverse counties. State Rep. Jim Rigby (R-Johnstown) wishes Gov. Tom Wolf would have remembered that while formulating a plan for “reopening Pennsylvania.”
“Choosing to close the state by regions as we evaluated the spread of the COVID-19 virus would have been a mistake, and I’m glad health officials spoke with local leaders and made the decision to go county by county,” Rigby said. “So why not retrace our steps by consulting with those same county officials who have their feet on the ground as we try to get Pennsylvania back to work?”
Rigby is referring to Wolf’s treatment of Cambria and Somerset counties as part of his regional approach to progressing through the governor’s three-phase “red-yellow-green” plan for Pennsylvania.
“On behalf of our constituents, I, along with commissioners and state senators in the counties we represent, sent letters to the governor, asking him to evaluate us as part of a county-by-county approach,” added Rigby. “It appears as though he completely ignored our request and COVID-19 statistics and is lumping us in with counties of which we have very little in common, especially with regard to the progression of this virus.
“Businesses and taxpayers are being forced to endure great hardship at the hands of a virus they can’t see. They deserve to be treated respectfully, realistically and fairly as they try to get their lives back together!”
Rigby represents the 71st Legislative District, which consists of, in Cambria County, the City of Johnstown; the townships of Adams, Conemaugh, Richland, Stonycreek and West Taylor; the boroughs of Brownstown, Daisytown, Dale, East Conemaugh, Ehrenfeld, Ferndale, Franklin, Geistown, Lorain, Scalp Level, South Fork, Southmont, Summerhill and Westmont; and the borough of Paint in Somerset County.
Representative Jim Rigby
71st Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives