# Republicans Ban School Mask Mandates **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [August 30, 2021, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-ban-school-mask-mandates/949789 "2021-08-30T18:06:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2021, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-ban-school-mask-mandates/949789/1 "2021-08-30T18:06:52Z")
Continuing the discussion from [The Republican War on Voting Thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-war-on-voting-thread/937723/573): I believe there are now _nine_ states where a Republican governor and/or legislature has tried to prohibit schools from enforcing mask mandates. To clarify, I am not aware of any state banning the usage of masks in schools. Some states prohibit schools from requiring face coverings, others require schools to respect the parents’ decision to have their child attend in-person without a mask. - Arizona - [Ariz. Sess. Laws Ch. 404](https://www.azleg.gov/legtext/55Leg/1R/laws/0404.pdf#page=45), § 12 (June 30, 2021) - [According to Maricopa County Judge Randall Warner](https://www.12news.com/article/news/politics/judge-rules-against-blocking-phoenix-union-high-school-district-mask-mandate/75-f5445d52-4876-4cf5-9da2-8b5d1bd3b4b3), new state laws become effective 90 days after the end of the legislative session, in this case September 29. Therefore he denied a biology teacher’s request to strike down Phoenix Union High School District’s mask mandate. - On August 17, Governor Ducey [announced](https://azgovernor.gov/governor/news/2021/08/governor-ducey-announces-163-million-increase-pupil-funding-schools) $163 million in _federal_ funds will be made available as grants to Arizona schools that “follow all laws” (read: do not have mask mandates). - On August 18, President Biden [issued a memo](https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/08/18/ensuring-a-safe-return-to-in-person-school-for-the-nations-children/) to Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona to crack down on such shenanigans involving federal money. - Arkansas - [2021 Ark. Acts 1002](https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Acts/FTPDocument?path=%2FACTS%2F2021R%2FPublic%2F&file=1002.pdf&ddBienniumSession=2021%2F2021R) at sec. 1 (April 28, 2021) - Governor Hutchinson has said ([YouTube](https://youtu.be/zucEaNJ1ZOA?t=1154), August 3) he was not supportive of the law when he signed it. > **"Auto-generated transcript (click to show/hide)** > > “Well I signed it at the time because our cases were at a very low point I knew that it would be overridden by the legislature if I didn’t sign it and I was not supportive of uh I’d already eliminated our statewide mass mandate and so uh you know I signed it for those reasons that our cases are at a low point everything has changed now and yes in hindsight I wish that had not become law but it is the law and the only chance we have is either to amend it or for the courts to say that it has an unconstitutional foundation” - Pulaski County Circuit Judge Tim Fox issued a preliminary injunction against the law on August 6 ([AP](https://apnews.com/article/health-arkansas-coronavirus-pandemic-d79a14a84f0c7ba3bd6d8b3cf4039404)). - Florida - [Fl. Exec. Order No. 21-175](https://www.flgov.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Executive-Order-21-175.pdf), § 2 (July 30, 2021) [ed. note: not the actual ban] - [August 3 takedown of factual claims](https://www.flsenate.gov/PublishedContent/Senators/2020-2022/5198/Documents/Letter8_3_21.pdf) cited in the order, from Fl. State Senator Gary Farmer, Jr (D) - [Fla. Admin. Code R. 64DER21-12](https://www.flrules.org/gateway/ruleNo.asp?id=64DER21-12) (1)(d) (August 8, 2021) [ed. note: this is the actual ban] > **Excerpt (click to show/hide)** > > “Students may wear masks or facial coverings as a mitigation measure; however, the school must allow for a parent or legal guardian of the student to opt-out the student from wearing a face covering or mask.” - Leon County Circuit Judge John Cooper overturned the ban on Friday, August 27. ([2021 CA 001382](https://cvweb.leonclerk.com/public/online_services/high_profile/high_profile.asp): _Robin McCarthy , et al v. Governor Ron DeSantis et al._ [ruling not yet published]) ([CBS Miami](https://miami.cbslocal.com/2021/08/28/florida-judge-overturns-desantis-school-mask-mandate-ban/), [NPR](https://www.npr.org/sections/back-to-school-live-updates/2021/08/27/1031714923/florida-judge-throws-out-governor-ron-desantis-order-prohibiting-masks-in-school)) - Iowa - [2021 Iowa Acts Ch. 139](https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/iactc/89.1/CH0139.pdf#page=8), § 28 (May 20, 2021) - Governor Reynolds has repeatedly defended the law. (for example on [KCRG](https://www.kcrg.com/2021/08/12/gov-reynolds-decision-prohibit-school-mask-policies/), August 12) - Oklahoma - [2021 Okla. Sess. Laws 525 [SB 0658]](https://www.sos.ok.gov/documents/legislation/58th/2021/1R/SB/0658.pdf#page=3) § 2 (May 28, 2021) - Oklahoma Attorney General John O’Connor plans to sue defiant school districts sometime this week. ([Fox 23](https://www.fox23.com/news/local/oklahoma-attorney-general-sue-school-districts-with-mask-mandates/CN3ZLUY3AFEKXGM34ULRLTNSMY/)) - South Carolina - [2021-2022 Appropriation Act, Part 1B Section 1](https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess124_2021-2022/appropriations2021/tap1b.htm#s1).108 (June 25, 2021) > **Excerpt (click to show/hide)** > > “No school district, or any of its schools, may use any funds appropriated or authorized pursuant to this act to require that its students and/or employees wear a facemask at any of its education facilities. This prohibition extends to the announcement or enforcement of any such policy.” - SC Supreme Court set to hear two cases about this provision tomorrow. ([P&C](https://www.postandcourier.com/columbia/news/sc-supreme-court-will-hear-2-school-mask-cases-back-to-back-tuesday/article_4e3bc656-073c-11ec-b90b-1b402ef07272.html)) - Tennessee - [Ten. Exec. Order No. 84](https://publications.tnsosfiles.com/pub/execorders/exec-orders-lee84.pdf) (August 16, 2021) ([Press release](https://www.tn.gov/governor/news/2021/8/16/gov--lee-signs-executive-order-giving-parents-ability-to-opt-out-of-school-mask-mandates.html)) - Texas - [Tex. Exec. Order No. GA-36](https://gov.texas.gov/uploads/files/press/EO-GA-36_prohibition_on_mandating_face_coverings_response_to_COVID-19_disaster_IMAGE_05-18-2021.pdf), § 1-2 (May 18, 2021) - [Tex. Exec. Order No. GA-38](https://gov.texas.gov/uploads/files/press/EO-GA-38_continued_response_to_the_COVID-19_disaster_IMAGE_07-29-2021.pdf), § 3(b) (July 29, 2021) - A very confusing line of litigation. First State District Judge Catherine Mauzy of Travis County temporarily restrains the state from enforcing the ban on school mask mandates. The Texas Supreme Court declines to overturn that restraining order. But then the same Texas Supreme Court blocks mask mandates in San Antonio and Bexar Counties. ([NBC](https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-news/texas-supreme-court-blocks-san-antonio-schools-mask-mandate/2727898/)). Governor Abbott says he has the power to enforce the ban, but in court filings A.G. Paxton claims it is up to local (often Democratic) DAs, who won’t enforce it. ([Star Tribune](https://www.texastribune.org/2021/08/27/texas-mask-mandates-greg-abbott/)) - Utah - Chapter ?, Laws of Utah 2021, First Special Session § 1-3 (May 28, 2021) [ed. note: Utah state session laws are behind a [paywall](https://onlinelibrary.utah.gov/heinonline/) of sorts, requiring a public library card. The enrolled bill, which should be identical, was [HB1007](https://le.utah.gov/~2021S1/bills/static/HB1007.html). Or see the codified statute, [Title 53G, Chapter 9, Part 2, sec. 210(5)](https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title53G/Chapter9/53G-9-S210.html%22)] ~Max ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2021, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-ban-school-mask-mandates/949789/2 "2021-08-31T01:14:31Z")
The Party of Trump is becoming a death cult. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2021, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-ban-school-mask-mandates/949789/3 "2021-08-31T01:18:36Z")
These people are the ones who rant the loudest about wanting the pandemic to be over, yet they fight as hard as possible to keep the pandemic going as long as possible. Masks? No. Vaccine? No. Distancing? No. _ **Then, may I ask as politely as possible, what is your f\_\_\_\_ing plan to get this pandemic over with???** _ ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2021, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-ban-school-mask-mandates/949789/4 "2021-08-31T02:07:07Z")
“Liposomal Vitamin C,” “Liposomal Vitamin D3” “Quercetin and Pterostilbene Advanced,” bleach, bright light, antimalarial, anti-parasitic. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2021, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-ban-school-mask-mandates/949789/5 "2021-08-31T02:24:56Z")
The story was, when covid was first in the horizon, Jared assured Trump it would mostly devastate big cities, NY, LA, SAN Fran, Washington, yknow big Democrat populations. But in reality, this is clearly going to take out more Red state citizens, it seems. The irony, it burns. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2021, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-ban-school-mask-mandates/949789/6 "2021-08-31T02:26:10Z")
'Give me ~~liberty~~ ivermectin or give me death! ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2021, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-ban-school-mask-mandates/949789/7 "2021-08-31T02:27:41Z")
AND give me death. ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2021, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-ban-school-mask-mandates/949789/8 "2021-08-31T03:01:17Z")
Countries figured out a long time ago that biological warfare has too big of a chance of backfiring on you… ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2021, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-ban-school-mask-mandates/949789/9 "2021-08-31T03:40:24Z")
> [@Folly](#): > > Countries figured out a long time ago that biological warfare has too big of a chance of backfiring on you…   There’s backfiring, and then there’s fanning the flames towards your own house. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2021, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-ban-school-mask-mandates/949789/10 "2021-08-31T16:09:23Z")
Here’s something interesting, although old news (Aug. 18) by now. The Paris, TX Independent School District attempted to bypass Gov. Abbott’s executive orders by requiring face coverings as part of their _dress code_. > **[Paris ISD finds loophole in governor's mask mandate ban by adding masks to...](https://www.fox4news.com/news/paris-isd-finds-loophole-in-governors-mask-mandate-ban-by-adding-masks-to-dress-code)** > > A small northeast Texas school district may have found a way to get around Gov. Greg Abbott’s ban on mask mandates. Masks are now part of the dress code for students in Paris ISD. ~Max ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2021, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-ban-school-mask-mandates/949789/11 "2021-08-31T16:19:15Z")
> [@Max\_S](#): > > Here’s something interesting, although old news (Aug. 18) by now. > > The Paris, TX Independent School District attempted to bypass Gov. Abbott’s executive orders by requiring face coverings as part of their _dress code_ . > > [Paris ISD finds loophole in governor's mask mandate ban by adding masks to dress code](https://www.fox4news.com/news/paris-isd-finds-loophole-in-governors-mask-mandate-ban-by-adding-masks-to-dress-code) This is what I’ve been saying for months now. If the law can require me to wear pants, it can require you to wear a mask. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2021, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-ban-school-mask-mandates/949789/12 "2021-08-31T16:28:25Z")
The clever part about it is that since it’s not a “mask mandate”, it’s technically outside of the Governor’s executive order, and he’ll have an uphill fight to overturn it, as dress codes are left to the school districts, unlike mask mandates, which are something his order explicitly forbids. A lot of the rest of the legal challenges to this center more around the Governor’s order being counter to the County Judges’ mandate to provide for public health and safety, and therefore invalid. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2021, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-ban-school-mask-mandates/949789/13 "2021-08-31T16:29:33Z")
So the original impetus for this topic was to separate the school mask mandate politics from the Republican War on Voting topic. From that topic, > [@The Republican War on Voting Thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-war-on-voting-thread/937723/573): > > Abbott’s policies on mask mandates and vaccinations are deeply unpopular with the general public Whoever was standing in for Chris Cuomo two Fridays ago (8/20) on SXM POTUS went into this. At the time a new Axios/Ipsos poll came out showing most Americans support school mask mandates. The host & guest wondered why Republican governors would go against broad public opinion, and to be honest that’s something I wonder about too. It’s not like Greg Abbott came to power with Trump. I don’t think his base == Trump’s base. He’s part of the old guard, having been appointed to the Texas Supreme Court by Bush II in the '90s, serving as Texas AG under Rick Perry, and being governor since 2014 (pre-Trump). He’s up for re-election in 2022 and will probably face stiff competition, having only a 55.8% majority in 2018 and being thoroughly controversial today. So my questions, in search of Gov. Abbott’s rationale, are: 1. Do the majority of _Texans_ support school mask mandates? 2. Do the majority of _Texas Republicans_ support school mask mandates? 3. Why, just why is Gov. Abbott doing this? _What’s in it for him_? In the case of DeSantis we have at least the (admittedly conspiracy-esque) theory that one of his big political donors wants more people in the hospital because (s)he has a stake in some antibody treatment… ~Max ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2021, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-ban-school-mask-mandates/949789/14 "2021-08-31T17:02:47Z")
> [@Max\_S](#): > > In the case of DeSantis we have at least the (admittedly conspiracy-esque) theory that one of his big political donors wants more people in the hospital because (s)he has a stake in some antibody treatment… Just going to take that back, > “Claiming that there is somehow ‘corruption’ by promoting the baseless political narrative that Governor DeSantis supports Regeneron over COVID vaccines (completely false, but that is another topic) is not even logically consistent when you examine the SEC filing,” [DeSantis spokesperson] Pushaw said in an email. “Citadel holds far more shares of Pfizer and Moderna than Regeneron.” > **[DeSantis top donor invests in COVID drug governor promotes](https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-health-coronavirus-pandemic-4d0d18b24e0dd41de2424e19b3ed994f)** > > Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has been criticized for efforts to ban mask mandates and vaccine passports. ~Max ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2021, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-ban-school-mask-mandates/949789/15 "2021-08-31T17:08:08Z")
> [@Max\_S](#): > > At the time a new Axios/Ipsos poll came out showing most Americans support school mask mandates. The host & guest wondered why Republican governors would go against broad public opinion, and to be honest that’s something I wonder about too. One reason: they want lots of people to die of covid while Biden is President so they can blame him. If the Republicans go along with _any_ measures that Biden (or Democrats in general) promote to get the virus under control, they will seem to be supporting him and that cannot be! If Biden wants to save lives, the Republicans must oppose him and promote death. It’s that simple. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2021, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-ban-school-mask-mandates/949789/16 "2021-08-31T17:09:51Z")
I don’t think so. Back in the late winter and early spring months, even governors like DeSantis were touting vaccines. You’ll notice that none of these bans on school mask mandates came until after the vaccines were made available for the general public in the spring. ~Max ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2021, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-ban-school-mask-mandates/949789/17 "2021-08-31T17:14:56Z")
That was then. This is now. \ ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2021, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-ban-school-mask-mandates/949789/18 "2021-08-31T17:17:35Z")
My point was, the vaccine rollout was nearly all while Biden was president. But Republican governors touted the vaccines, hard, at least before summertime. These bans on school mask mandates did not come into place as Biden took office, in time for the spring semester, but at the conclusion of the spring semester. It suggests that the Republicans are not _merely_ acting to oppose Biden. ~Max ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2021, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-ban-school-mask-mandates/949789/19 "2021-08-31T17:19:12Z")
It’s a fair question to ask: do enough rural republicans die to hurt their chances at the ballot box in 2022? They’re already facing a demographic problem of not reproducing fast enough and dying off at a faster rate. This potentially stacks the demographic cards against them even more. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2021, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-ban-school-mask-mandates/949789/20 "2021-08-31T17:25:30Z")
> [@Max\_S](#): > > My point was, the vaccine rollout was nearly all while Biden was president. But Republican governors touted the vaccines, hard, at least before summertime. These bans on school mask mandates did not come into place as Biden took office, in time for the spring semester, but at the conclusion of the spring semester. It suggests that the Republicans are not _merely_ acting to oppose Biden. My take: back then it seemed like the country almost had this thing whupped, so why not get on the vaccination bandwagon. But with the Delta surge, and Afghanistan, and the escalation of shit that Biden has to deal with, the Pubs see this as The Perfect Storm to bring him down after stomping the Dems in the midterms. I would love to be talked out of this. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-ban-school-mask-mandates/949789.md?page=2)