Rep. Daryl Metcalfe reveals 5 articles of impeachment against Gov. Tom Wolf

A state Representative from Butler County and 24 co-sponsors filed articles of impeachment against Gov. Tom Wolf.

Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, R-Cranberry, introduced House Resolution 915 on Tuesday afternoon, claiming Wolf should be removed from office for his actions during the coronavirus pandemic and referred to the governor as “Dictator Wolf.”

GOP lawmakers have argued the governor’s actions have damaged the state’s economy and exceeded his authority.

Pa. lawmaker introduces articles of impeachment against Gov. Tom Wolf https://t.co/f9okdwAQhD

— WGAL (@WGAL) June 16, 2020

“While these are certainly unprecedented and chaotic times, Gov. Tom Wolf must be held accountable for his actions that have harmed so many of our citizens and violated so many of our rights,” Metcalfe said in a statement. “Wolf’s unconstitutional dictates and Orwellian overreach into our lives and the marketplace has caused immeasurable harm and hardship for far more Pennsylvanians than the virus!”

In Pennsylvania, while the House has the authority to impeach, two-thirds of the state Senate would have to vote to remove the governor.

Lyndsay Kensinger, a Wolf spokeswoman, told pennlive.com the steady decline in new covid-19 cases in recent weeks shows the benefit of Wolf’s careful approach to reopening. She noted other states are seeing spikes in cases because of reopening too quickly.

“This is just the latest example of the House Republicans wasting time instead of helping to protect Pennsylvanians during this public health crisis,” Kensinger told the website in an email.

Bill Patton, the spokesman for House Democrats, added, “The governor’s doing the job he was elected to do, and the last thing the state needs right now is a circus sideshow. House Democrats will give this political stunt no more attention than it deserves.”

Rep. Brad Roae of Crawford County countered with his contention the governor overreached in shutting down businesses during the pandemic.

“There is no state of emergency, but the governor is acting like this is a state of emergency,” Roae told the Erie Times-News.

Among the House Republicans in the General Assembly who signed on to cosponsor Metcalfe’s resolution were Rep. R. Lee James, R-Seneca; Rep. Aaron Bernstine, R-Ellwood City; Dan Moul, R-Adams; Rep. Bud Cook, R-Belle Vernon; Rep. Eric Devanzo, R-Mt. Pleasant; Rep. Marci Mustello, R-Butler; and Rep. Jeffrey Pyle, R-Sarver.