Senator Mario R. Mattera (2nd Senate District) joined with Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt and the Senate Republican Conference members to call for an end to the “unconstitutional mandates” promulgated by Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Department of Health. The Republicans forced a vote on the New York State Senate floor to end the mandates in an effort to hold the majority party to account for their position.
Republicans offered the measure up as an effort to protect the children of New York State, who continue to have to wear masks during the school day. No Democrats joined the Republican[1]led push to end school mask mandates.
“It is long past time to unmask our children and allow them to return to normalcy,” said Senator Mario Mattera. “The damage that New York State mandates are senselessly doing to our youngest residents is unconscionable. These children need to fully enjoy their childhood to reach their potential, and these policies are taking that opportunity away from them. I urge my Democrat colleagues to join us in protecting our youngest and most vulnerable now.”
This vote happened in the context of the so-called “vax or mask” business mandate being lifted, but with the mask mandate in schools and childcare centers remaining in place. At the same time, we see other states start to drop their school mask mandates and new data showing the harmful effects of the pandemic on education.
“It’s well past time for Governor Hochul to finally end her mask mandate for school children. Families are fed up, frustrated, and want the Governor’s mask mandate removed – and we want New York State to start putting our kids first,” said Senator Daphne Jordan. “While neighboring states including Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Connecticut all have mask mandate off-ramps, Governor Hochul’s indecision and delay are keeping our kids on a road to nowhere, with no end in sight to her oppressive mask mandates that are doing real harm mentally, emotionally, developmentally, and educationally. The people are speaking — and the Governor needs to start listening.”
“The public has patiently abided by the never-ending, often confusing, mandates coming out of Albany but their patience is wearing thin. The justification that these mandates are for public safety erodes when it’s clear the mandates are inconsistent and arbitrary. For the second time, the state has rescinded its mask mandate for most public places except schools. Why is it OK for students to go maskless at sporting events and restaurants but not in the classroom? It defies logic. I’m proud to stand with my colleagues calling for an end to these draconian measures,” said Senator Alexis Weik.
Senate Republicans have consistently called for more local control in juxtaposition to the approach taken by the Governor.
Last week, Leader Ortt and Senate Republicans penned a letter to the Governor attacking her school mask decision as unscientific. A representative from the Department of Health later confirmed that they have no “data targets” for ending school masking. On Saturday, Leader Ortt stood with educators and parents to reiterate his calls for an end to the child mask mandate.
State Republicans see this as a part of their accountability plank in their “Take Back New York” 2022 agenda – which the Conference has been unveiling since January.
