MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Remember that special legislative session Tennessee Republicans demanded in October to put a stop to COVID related restrictions? You know, the one that even a Republican state senator called a waste of time and money. Well, it appears the session may have been for naught.
Late last week, a federal judge temporarily prevented the state from enacting portions of the legislation – including banning mask mandates in schools. The ban was included in bills passed by the GOP-controlled legislature in the dead of night to placate opponents of rules meant to slow the spread of the virus.
But Judge Waverly Crenshaw said what the legislature really did was jeopardize the health and safety of school children – particularly those with disabilities. Simply put, the judge said, the legislative ban does nothing to serve the public interest, while allowing children to attend school safely does.
The court decision is a smack down to the legislature and Gov. Bill Lee, who signed the bills into law rather than show leadership by vetoing them. And it underscores comments from Republican state senator Todd Gardenhire who said his colleagues acted in haste and succeeded only in giving red meat to the GOP base.
It’s clear that local schools and health officials should be free to decide policies that protect local residents. It’s also clear that the fight against COVID-19 has been politicized too much, and our state lawmakers as guilty of doing that as anyone.