The mask cult suffered a stinging blow on Thursday when Republican Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed the toughest anti-mask law yet, and they aren't happy about it.
The law, passed by the state House 53-35 and the Senate 29-17 as a part of a more comprehensive education bill, bans cities, counties, and school districts from imposing mask requirements for COVID-19 or any future health emergency, the Des Moines Register reported.
It took effect immediately.
We need a law like this in EVERY red state. If the GOP controls governorship AND both legislatures, strike while the iron is hot. ????????https://t.co/UXlzDz3pHB
— Scott Morefield (@SKMorefield) May 20, 2021
Via the Register:
Republicans voted down an amendment Democrats proposed that would have limited the mask mandate prohibitions to the COVID-19 pandemic. Another failed Democratic amendment would have allowed the Iowa Department of Public Health and local boards of health to enact mask wearing or safety measures to address local public health issues.
According to the legislation, school boards and superintendents cannot require employees, students or members of the public to wear a facial covering while on the property of a public or accredited private school. Exceptions include when facial coverings are necessary for an "extracurricular or instructional purpose" or required by existing portions of Iowa law governing ear and eye protection. (Des Moines Register)
In other words, Republican lawmakers ensured that Iowans will retain the right to breathe freely even when the next over-hyped health "emergency" comes along. And believe me, it will. Now that public officials and health bureaucrats have gotten a taste of power, you can bet they'll latch on to whatever comes next to grab even more of it. Masks are, after all, a "small inconvenience" to them, an easy measure to impose regardless of proof of whether or not they actually WORK.
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As expected, the passage of a law like this, that preserves an essential freedom for ordinary citizens, was bound to get plenty of pushback from the Branch Covidians, and this one did NOT disappoint.
Des Moines infectious disease Dr. Rossana Rosa, who has been critical of Reynolds' pandemic response, said the law makes no sense to help people cope with public health during the COVID-19 pandemic or others threats that may arise. Coronaviruses like the one that causes COVID spread through community interactions, and masks primarily protect other people, not the person wearing it.
"This is a contagious virus, a social virus that moves throughout our community," Rosa said. "What happens to one individual is actually linked to what happens to other people in the community. ... This is completely wrong. It is so wrong, so unscientific to say that (this is about individuals). It just shows you the willful ignorance of those who put this into law." ( Des Moines Register)
Critics abounded on Twitter as well:
You can always tell these GOP governors know they are in wrong when they sign bills behind closed doors or overnight. https://t.co/Vk4WtsrQrn
— Amy Siskind ?????? (@Amy_Siskind) May 20, 2021
I just learned about the law that #CovidKim signed which bans mask mandates in the state of Iowa and I cannot believe how ignorant this woman is. 2022 is too far away
— Breannna Harrington (@thisbananasucks) May 20, 2021
"Willful ignorance" it is. The Republican "leadership" in Iowa is so awful. https://t.co/I5sarHS5Wv
— Dave Loebsack for Iowa (@DaveForIowa) May 20, 2021
The only time I have cried over legislation: after talking to a parent with a medically vulnerable child and hearing how this will devastate families like theirs. Amendment to prohibit school mask requirements—everywhere no matter what—passes in the Iowa Senate. pic.twitter.com/y2bPyMI9ZP
— Sarah Trone Garriott (@SarahforIowa) May 20, 2021
So yeah, the fear is real. But is it based on facts or media propaganda? You decide.
On 2/10, after Iowa’s Governor lifted restrictions & the mask mandate, the Washington Post published a piece entitled: “Welcome to Iowa, a state that doesn’t care if you live or die”
— IM (@ianmSC) April 30, 2021
Deaths are down -91.4% since
It’s pretty hard to imagine being more wrong than that pic.twitter.com/Ln3t2K5kjd
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