Ricketts tells local governments they won't get federal COVID-19 money if they require masks

[RandySF]

LINCOLN — At his regular coronavirus press conferences, Gov. Pete Ricketts makes a point of urging Nebraskans to wear a mask when they go to a store.

But when it comes to the state’s 93 courthouses and other local government offices, he doesn’t want local officials to require masks. In fact, he’s told local governments that they won’t receive any of the $100 million in federal COVID-19 money if their “customers” are required to wear masks.

“The governor encourages people to wear a mask,” according to his spokesman Taylor Gage, “but does not believe that failure to wear a mask should be the basis for denying taxpayers’ services.”

The no-mask mandate has been poorly received in some corners of the state, with officials criticizing the loss of local control. It also runs counter to the advice of public health officials, who have stressed the importance of wearing masks.



https://www.omaha.com/news/state_and_regional/ricketts-tells-local-governments-they-wont-get-federal-covid-19-money-if-they-require-masks/article_d15459b9-26df-527e-9899-9f579a3d8597.html?utm_campaign=snd-autopilot&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter_OWHnews#1

[LonePirate]

1. These Republicans are not the pro-life champions they claim to be.

[LastDemocratInSC]

5. They never were.

[struggle4progress]

2. "Make America great with dead bodies in the streets and flies buzzin around their eyes!"

Who votes for these nutcases?

[Rstrstx]

3. He can always pull an Abbott

Who green-lighted the ability of local officials to issue rules requiring private businesses to enforce masks or facial covers, a couple of weeks after blocking local officials from requiring masks or facial covers.

In other words counties or cities can't enforce facial coverings but they can enforce businesses to require facial coverings. A distinction without much of a difference, the businesses get fined instead of the people.

It was a face-saving way out of his own rules after a disastrous spike in case numbers the past few days. This is very much his modus operandi.

[imanamerican63]

4. Rickey Rucker Ricketts is another Trump wanna be!