Montco Lawmaker Calls On State Legislature To Wear Masks

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PA — A Montgomery County lawmaker issued a plea on Thursday to his colleagues in the state legislature to wear masks after one of his colleagues tested positive for coronavirus.

State Rep. Joe Webster pointed specifically to a group of Republicans who he said had failed to exercise proper precautions.

"This message should be reiterated for my Republican colleagues in the State Government Committee meeting yesterday who still cannot seem to bring themselves to wear a mask for the protection of themselves and others around them," Webster said. "Selfish inaction such as theirs make positive test results like the one announced today more real and dangerous for those at greatest risk."

The State Government Committee contains 23 representatives, including nine Democrats and 14 Republicans. Another Democratic member of that Committee, State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, echoed Webster's point.

"Time and time again I come to the Pennsylvania State House and a majority of the @PAHouseGOP still refuses to wear a mask," he wrote on Twitter Thursday. "Now yet another member of their caucus tests positive."

An Allentown-based lawmaker, State Rep. Peter Schweyer, said that the legislative body needed "real enforcement of the mask mandate."

The Democrats did not specify the instances of when their colleagues were not wearing masks, where they were at, or if they were socially distanced at the time.

>>PA House Cancels Session After Rep. Tests Positive For COVID-19

House Republicans have not issued a response to the claims. The incident comes just a day after a microphone captured two other Pennsylvania Democrats, Gov. Wolf and State Rep. Wendy Ullman of Bucks County, calling mask-wearing "political theater." The incident drew a response from figures on the right across the nation, ranging from President Trump's son Eric Trump to Fox News.

Webster said he himself was not in proximity of the individual who tested positive, though it remains unclear if any other legislators may need to quarantine. The legislator in question, State Rep. Paul Schemel (R-90) from Franklin County, said he is experiencing minor symptoms.

Contact tracing is underway, and Schemel is working with officials to determine the breadth of his interactions in recent days.

As a result of the positive test, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives canceled its voting session on Thursday.