DeSantis looks to ban mask mandates if schools, feds require them

[Zorro]

Source: Tampa Bay Times

The governor made his comments in response to what he said was talk about compulsory masks in schools.

TALLAHASSEE — As Florida schools return to in-person learning next month and COVID-19 cases surge, Gov. Ron DeSantis doubled down on his opposition to mask requirements Thursday, suggesting he would be willing to call a special session of the Legislature to outlaw it if the federal government imposes a mandate or local school districts defy him.

“We look forward to this upcoming year to be a normal school year, be in person, and live like normal and learn like normal kids,” DeSantis said at a news conference at Indian River State College. “There’s been talk about potentially people advocating at the federal level, imposing compulsory masks on kids. We’re not doing that in Florida, okay? We need our kids to breathe. We need our kids to be able to be kids.”

The governor’s remarks immediately drew a rebuke from White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, who said the comment “puts kids at risk.”

She acknowledged that the masks are “not the most comfortable thing” but said they are part of the public health guidance. “I will say my kids are quite adjusted to them, as I know many kids are,” Psaki said.

Read more: https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/2021/07/22/desantis-schools-feds-wont-mandate-masks-if-they-do-hell-have-legislature-ban-them/

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Kids can't breathe if they wear masks? Who knew.

I have a hard time figuring out who's the biggest asshole Republican governor -- Abbott or DeSantis.

[viva la]

1. I saw a bunch of kids on the playground running and shouting

through their masks.
They didn't even notice them.

[Pobeka]

2. Then feds should say "In FL, under no circumstances should kids wear masks".

Would DeSantis order all children to wear masks?

This is so juvenile.

[bullimiami]

3. He really is DeDumbest.

[Lunabell]

4. Kill the kids to pwn the libs!

Dumbest bunch of dumbasses ever!

[Guilded Lilly]

5. Vile, ego-driven, arrogant man.

[Walleye]

6. He's not gonna get as much support as he thinks.This could quickly turn into a political liability

[DavidDvorkin]

7. He only needs to play to the base for long enough to get the nomination.

[Walleye]

8. Three years is a long time in politics these days

[DavidDvorkin]

11. True

It's going to be an interesting three years politically.

[empedocles]

13. desantis straddling, perhaps ahead of the rw pol curve. Anti mandate, pro vaccine.

[Javaman]

26. if it were any other state, I would agree with you.

not florida.

[Walleye]

27. True. They elected the son of a bitch. I get a little too optimistic sometimes

[lees1975]

9. This is a great way to make sure Democrats win elections in Florida

Even stupid Republicans are realizing this is a real problem and they were wrong about COVID-19.

[Lochloosa]

16. Not true. I live here. They swallow this assholes shit hook, line and sinker

[SheltieLover]

10. Won't he be Mr. Popularity when fridge trucks are filled with kids?

This covidiot belongs in a steel cage for life, at the minimum.

[LisaL]

12. I vote DeSantis.

NT

[BlueWavePsych]

14. DeathSantis!

[patphil]

15. Over 12,600 new Covid cases in Florida tody, and this jerk wants to ban mask mandates?

I'd say it was unbelievable, but he is a Republican. Nothing they do is unbelievable any more.

[tavernier]

17. De Satan can talk all he wants.

He can’t stop teachers and parents and kids who are concerned about staying safe from wearing masks. You can bet first day back I’ll be wearing one.

[Evolve Dammit]

18. Deplorable. And fucking nuts. Sorry FL. Lots of you will die for no reason other than the Guv. nt

[DallasNE]

19. This Is Deadly Serious Stuff

So we don't need people treating this like some kind of chess game looking for the magic checkmate. DeSantis already has blood on his hand and refreshing the blood should be political death. But in a circle comprised of cult members it seems to somehow work. Disgusting.

[turbinetree]

20. You think maybe its time that someone sued the governor of that state to find out if he is sane

and then do the same thing to Abbott and the rest of them that are in power in other fucking states being run by the criminality insane...republican fascist partly....I mean seriously...

[Jon King]

21. He has one shot to ever be President and is going for it....

He is all in on 2024....full MAGA mode. He figures this is his only shot before demographics make it impossible. If he can get all the MAGAs and get the Repugs in some states to overturn the votes, along with suppressing some votes, he could win in 2024.

Expect him to go full out crazy from here on and try to fire up the 74 million Repug voters from 2020.

[Rhiannon12866]

22. Here in New York, I've seen even the youngest kids getting off the bus wearing masks

We have had some breakouts in local schools, but we now have the vaccine available to those 12-and-up. And when I took my brother to get his second shot back in May, I saw some of those kids at the large vaccination site nearest me, accompanied by their Moms.

[lees1975]

23. Wasn't Desantis one of the governors in the "ignorance brigade" along with

Noem in South Dakota and Ducey in Arizona who screamed and shouted that "liberals" like Pritzker in Illinois and Newsome in California didn't have the authority to enact emergency pandemic orders like wearing masks? Then wouldn't the reverse be true as well? If you can't make people wear masks, you can't stop them from wearing them or interfere if a school district or county or other entity makes that a rule. Can't have it both ways.

[elleng]

24. A bunch of rotten repug governors around, eh?

[onetexan]

25. Time for DOJ to step in & do this idiot in.