Local officials in Texas are trying to introduce mask mandates, despite Gov. Greg Abbott’s executive order that prohibits such requirements.
The story: The Williamson County District Court’s office and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner have introduced mask requirements, according to The Epoch Times.
Their actions follow Abbott’s signing of an executive order that does not allow state and local officials to mandate mask-wearing or vaccinations.
The order states that “no governmental entity can compel any individual to receive a COVID-19 vaccine administered under an emergency use authorization … No governmental entity, including a county, city, school district, and public health authority, and no government official may require any person to wear a face-covering or mandate that another person wear a face covering.”
Violating the order carries fines of up to $1,000.
In detail: The Williamson County District Court’s office, in a suburb of Austin last week said that “all individuals coming to the [County] Justice Center, including the public and employees” are required “to wear face coverings and observe social distancing at all times in public spaces of the Justice Center unless otherwise noted.”
Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins also introduced a mask mandate and kicked out Republican Commissioner J.J. Koch from a commissioner’s court meeting because he was not wearing a mask.
Turner told city employees that they have to wear a face-covering on city properties regardless of their vaccination status.
Meanwhile, Austin Mayor Steve Adler asked the city manager “to require city employees to be vaccinated (subject only to appropriate exceptions).” He even said that business in Austing should “require their employees to become vaccinated” as well.
“We must all lead by our own example,” Adler said.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton weighed in on Jenkins’ mandate and his decision to remove Koch from the meeting. He told Jenkins that he has three days to nix the mask mandate.
“Your actions exceeded your authority,” Paxton told Jenkins in a letter. “Moreover, by violating the Governor’s order, you have compromised a county commissioner’s constitutional responsibility to represent his constituents. Please revoke your mask mandate by Aug. 9, 2021, or I will consider all available options to stop your unlawful mandate.”
Scroll down to leave a comment and share your thoughts.