Rep. Hall Responds to School Mask Mandate and Gov. Lamont’s Abdication of Responsibility

I want to begin by thanking the hundreds and hundreds of residents throughout Enfield, East Windsor, and all across the state who reached out to me and to our office to voice your opposition to any extension of the state’s mask mandates for school children. I want you to know that I hear you, I support you, and will continue to do so until these types of choices are returned back to the parents where they so rightfully belong.

Yesterday, the governor made the announcement that he is recommending the lifting of the mask mandate that has been in place for almost two full years. With his emergency authority set to expire, the legislature will be voting on Thursday on whether to leave these types of discretionary decisions and future decisions up to the commissioners of public health and education.

Governor Lamont is playing a shell game by stating he’s recommending the removal of mask mandates but pushing off the real decision to the local superintendents, who as of last week submitted a formal request to the governor to extend the mandates for school children for another 60-days.

For the past two years, Governor Lamont has solely led the state in virtually every decision related to COVID-19 and it’s shameful that now as one of the biggest issues requires taking a stand, he’s chosen to abdicate his responsibly by passing the buck back onto the superintendents. This decision DOES NOT REMOVE the mask mandates as he’s trying to make it seem and our residents are far too smart to buy into this jargon as he attempts to try and score some political points in a year where he’s seeking reelection.

On Thursday, I will be voting no to extend any mask mandate and will only support the option being left up to the parents and the individuals.