Congressmen Want Penn State Sanctions Reduced
Politicians all over Pennsylvania have obviously made the political calculation that there’s more to be gained from defending the Penn State football team than there is in wanting to look “tough” on institutions that ignore and facilitate child molesters in their midst. Gov. Tom Corbett is already suing the NCAA for its Jerry Sandusky-related sanctions against the football team; now a pair of congressmen are joining in:
U.S. Rep. Glenn Thompson, R-Howard Township, co-signed a letter with Rep. Charlie Dent, R-Allentown, asking the NCAA to reconsider the Penn State football team’s 40 scholarship reduction as part of the sanctions that were levied against the university in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal and the release of the Louis Freeh report.
Thompson, who publicly opposed all the sanctions, said the scholarship penalty is particularly irksome because it may deny young men the chance to get a college education.
Also Monday, the state Senate Appropriations Committee unanimously advanced to the full Senate a measure sponsored by panel chairman Sen. Jake Corman, R-Benner Township, that would require the $60 million in fines assessed on Penn State by the NCAA to remain in the state. A full Senate debate and vote could occur as early as Wednesday.
Luckily, no hints from the congressmen that maybe the feds will have to act (nudge nudge) if the NCAA doesn’t. Just a nice, friendly letter from a pair of congressmen. [Centre Daily Times]
