KY Lawmakers Shoot Down Beshear's School Mask Mandates: Local Schools Currently Working On Plan

Governor Andy Beshear speaks during a press conference on Friday, September 10, 2021.

Darren Doyle, story:
Kentucky lawmakers shut down Governor Andy Beshear's mask mandates in schools after a special called session by the Governor last week.

Lawmakers also banned any sort of statewide mask mandate.

In his Friday press conference, he said if he still had the authority, he would implement a masking mandate for indoor settings, because he said masking works. He encouraged school districts to require masks in schools.

"They (the legislature) went to the Supreme Court and said that I, the Governor, shouldn't making those calls, they should be making the calls. They are the policy-making body," said Beshear. "The Supreme Court agreed. So, the legislature owns this pandemic moving forward."

Edmonson County Superintendent of Schools Brian Alexander said in a statement on August 23rd, "As I have stated before with Governor Beshear’s masking mandate, our Board and I would prefer local control in terms of what is best for Edmonson County."

Alexander told the Edmonson Voice this morning that the school system is currently working on the course of action that will be taken in local schools. He also said that information will be released soon.

Beshear said whatever results occur from this decision fall "squarely on the shoulder's of the legislature."

"The masking decision that the general assembly made was wrong," Beshear said. "

Beshear vetoed two bills from the legislature but those vetoes were overridden by lawmakers.