Legislators uphold governor’s decision on health emergency

Local lawmakers voice opinions on lifting state’s mask mandate

Meeting in Little Rock today, legislators upheld the governor’s most recent declaration of a public health emergency due to Covid in Arkansas.

Hutchinson issued the executive order on Thursday, reinstating the public health emergency, which expired at the end of May.

A law passed this spring requires members of the House and Senate to meet as committees of the whole to review an executive order, with the option to override the governor’s decision, within eight days of the order being issued.

Because the governor’s decision was allowed to stand, the state’s emergency disaster related to public health is set to expire at 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 3.

Legislators are also waiting to see if the governor is going to call a special session, to begin Wednesday morning, to consider lifting a mask mandate, which was also passed during this spring’s session. The law prohibits government entities, such as school districts, from implementing mask mandates.

School districts are scheduled to begin classes on Monday, Aug. 16, and legislators have voiced concerns over the law regarding masks.

Sen. Ronald Caldwell, RWynne, after this morning’s meeting, said he remained unsure as to whether or not the special session would be called.

“I think the governor speculates that he does not have the votes on the mask mandate. That’s purely speculation,” said Caldwell.

Sen. Keith Ingram, D-West Memphis, said he favors local control over state control of decisions regarding masks.

“I’ve always been a great proponent for local control because the local government reflects the will of the people,” said Ingram. “Over the last six years, Republicans have gone about removing authority from local governments, and this is just another link in the chain of taking more authority away.”

Ingram said the Legislature’s decision on masks would be in response to Act 1002 that prohibits local governments from implementing mask mandates.

“All this would do is allow local school boards to make the decisions over how to best protect children, and if that is through the use of masks, that would come through local school boards,” said Ingram. “Just because this passes or doesn’t pass doesn’t mean masks will be mandated. It will still be up to local school boards to make those decisions for the safety of their teachers, staffs and the students.”

Rep. Reginald Murdock, DMarianna, said he is hopeful the Legislature will bring “some civility to the conversation and look at both sides of the issue.”

Murdock said he respects freedom of choice, but “when we have a pandemic at this level of public safety and transmission of such a highly-contagious disease, a decision has to be made to protect everyone involved.”

Murdock said it is unfortunate that the pandemic has become “so politicized.”

“It’s just sad. We see so many funerals. Our hospitals are backed up across the state. People are literally in ambulances or in waiting rooms on gurneys waiting to be seen,” Murdock continued.

Murdock said he has heard from constituents on both sides

of the mask issue. “The vote I cast will not be something to make someone else lose, or to choose, or to hurt someone. We’re really trying to care for all of us and what we’re up against. I wish I knew the right answer, but I don’t. We just have to use the science.

“This is so real,” Murdock said. “We have to make decisions for everyone involved. I would not be honest if I didn’t tell you it’s very difficult.”

Rep. Steve Hollowell, RForrest City, said if the special session is called, he does not believe the law will be modified.

“I’m probably going to be for keeping the same law as we have it. Most of the superintendents who have reached out to me are opposed to it because they tell me that if you do that, parents are going to take their kids out, go somewhere else or do something different.

“I’ve also talked to teachers,” continued Hollowell. “Teachers who have called me said there’s no way the masks work with kindergarten, first and second graders. It doesn’t work. The don’t keep them on, they’re nasty, they fall on the floor, they’re constantly pushing them up or down…”

“There are not enough votes for this to pass or to even get out of committees,” said Hollowell.

Hutchinson was scheduled to hold a press conference this afternoon.