Pennsylvania state Senator Jake Corman released a statement Thursday regarding the NCAA challenge to Pennsylvania law, according to a press release.
The NCAA filed a lawsuit against Governor Tom Corbett and other Pennsylvania officials on Wednesday in response to legislation to alter the consent decree signed by Penn State, as previously reported.
Corman introduced the legislation to keep the $60 million fine issued by the NCAA in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, which was into law by Corbett on Wednesday and and is referred to as Act 1.
Corman said in the press release that the NCAA challenge to Act 1 will “delay the Penn State fine money from positively impacting programs and services that assist child abuse victims in Pennsylvania.”
Corman added that because Pennsylvania does not have a role in the policy institutions of Penn State, the NCAA has acted beyond its bylaws.
Corman further said in the press release that Act 1 was “carefully crafted” to not damage the consent decree between Penn State and the NCAA and that the law is constitutional. But Corman said the NCAA has misrepresented the university as a private institution.
In response to NCAA President Mark Emmert’s statement that Act 1 is an attempt to benefit the “home team”, Corman called it inaccurate and that it also “exemplifies the organization’s delusional understanding of the law,” according to the press release.
Corman said Penn State does not gain anything from Act 1 and that the only people who will benefit are those who have been sexually abused in Pennsylvania. Corman reiterated in his press release that fine money should be distributed in Pennsylvania.
Corman added in the press release that, as a result of Emmert’s statement, “state-related and public universities which are members of the NCAA should call for a change in the NCAA leadership and operational standards.”
“The NCAA federal lawsuit is an unfortunate power grab by the NCAA, who appears to be more concerned with its national reputation than actually using the $60 million for those who need it the most,” Corman said in the press release.
