HARRISBURG – PA House Republican Leader Jesse Topper called on the Shapiro Administration to withdraw proposed regulations reminiscent of COVID lockdown-era government policy that would infringe upon constitutional norms and civil liberties. As reported this week by The Daily Wire, the Department of Health’s recently submitted proposed regulations would allow government officials to institute school or community mask mandates, enter private residences without warrants, and seek private health information without consent. Furthermore, the Department of Health would have the authority to enter any school building to interview a student of any age in private, without notification to the parent or guardian, to interview the student for contact tracing and partner services. Topper noted this private interview could lead to a student being convinced to take a vaccine or other treatment without notification to the parent or guardian. The lawmaker said one of the principal lessons learned through the unilateral approach taken to mitigating the COVID-19 pandemic was that the people demand their civil rights and individual freedom over government mandates. While there may be room for improvement in managing matters of public health and the spread of communicable diseases, we can never trade constitutional protections and personal liberty for the heavy hand of government.
REP. JESSE TOPPER