Commentary by, Kevin Hoar
Communications Director for the Oregon Republican Party

Despite COVID-19 cases rising, Kate Brown announces return to in-person schooling due to election politics, not science. Oregon GOP calls out Governor for playing games trying to save her candidates from voter ager.

The Oregon Republican Party released this statement following Governor Kate Brown’s announcement of new rules allowing schools to return to in-person schooling:

This morning Gov. Kate Brown announced relaxed rules to “prioritize” in-person schooling to resume in counties around the state, despite rising cases of COVID-19. Along with her Education Superintendent and Oregon Health Authority Director, Brown cited an extensive list of reasons for the change, including the ineffectiveness of distance learning for many students, the severe burden on working parents, the dangers of youth social isolation, the inability to provide school lunches and health services, the extremely low health risk posed by the virus to youth, the demonstrated effectiveness of mitigation measures, and convincing evidence that kids are “not a major driver” in the spread of the virus.

“Not mentioned at the press conference was any specific new scientific evidence that was not already known back in August when the original decision was made to force schools to use distance-learning,” said Oregon Republican Party Communications Director Kevin Hoar. “The reasons given today were ones repeatedly cited by Republicans in Oregon and across the country, including President Trump for months and months. Today, Brown and her ‘experts’ managed to indict themselves for their own disastrous decision this summer that she’s now suddenly changing at the same time that they sound the panic alarm over rising COVID-19 cases.”

“There’s only one explanation for this decision and its timing just days before election day - POLITICS. The Governor, who is now busy desperately pouring money into Democrat state political campaigns, must be seeing the same thing that Republican internal polls are showing and candidates are hearing,” said Hoar. “Parents are immensely unhappy with Brown and her party’s failure to deliver quality educational results, so Democrat candidates are at risk of paying the price with voters.”

“This is the same Governor who cynically extended her pandemic emergency executive orders until election day November 3rd, before extending them into 2021 earlier this week. These are the same Democrat elected officials who couldn’t bring themselves to condemn and demand an end to the riots, looting, and arson in our cities until they saw the political damage in opinion polls.”

“Oregonians have had enough of the naked, unaccountable political game-playing by the Governor and the intentional failure of her enablers like Shemia Fagan and other Democrat state legislators to do anything about it. Oregonians can put an end to all of this at the ballot box this weekend by voting Republican by 8 pm on November 3rd.”

IT IS TOO LATE TO MAIL YOUR BALLOT, WHICH MUST BE TAKEN TO AN OFFICIAL BALLOT DROP BOX BEFORE 8 PM TUESDAY NOVEMBER 3RD. To find a ballot drop box, see how to track your ballot, get candidate info, or get additional information on voting, visit our election guide at https://www.oregon.gop/elections-2020

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