ARIZONA NEWS

Arizona GOP lawmakers want Ducey to penalize schools that require masks

Aug 11, 2021, 1:55 PM | Updated: 2:21 pm

In this Thursday, July 9, 2020, file photo, Arizona Republican Gov. Doug Ducey gives a coronavirus ...

In this Thursday, July 9, 2020, file photo, Arizona Republican Gov. Doug Ducey gives a coronavirus update. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, Pool, File)

(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, Pool, File)

PHOENIX – A group of Arizona lawmakers from Gov. Doug Ducey’s own Republican party are pushing him take action against public school districts that have imposed face mask mandates.

“It borders on anarchy and destabilizes the very foundation of our society to have local governments effectively refusing to comply with the law. It must not be allowed to stand,” 26 GOP legislators, led by Rep. Jake Hoffman, said in a statement released Wednesday.

Among their demands are that Ducey withhold federal funding from districts with mask mandates and give their students vouchers known as Empowerment Scholarship Accounts that can be used at private schools.

“Stated plainly, the legislature did its job by passing common sense laws to protect the children and students of Arizona from anti-science mask and vaccine mandates, now we are eager to see the executive branch do its job to ensure that those laws are faithfully executed by the various levels of government within this state,” the statement from nine Senators and 17 House members says.

At least nine Arizona districts, including Phoenix Union High School and Tucson Unified, are requiring face coverings in response to a surge in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations driven by the fast-spreading delta variant.

A ban on such mandates was passed into law as part of the state budget signed by Ducey at the end of June. The bill that includes the ban doesn’t go into effect until Sept. 29, but it contains a clause to make the mask provision retroactive to June 30.

While seeking to have a lawsuit filed by a Metro Tech biology teacher dismissed, the Phoenix Union High School District argued that the law prohibiting face mask mandates isn’t in effect yet. A judge scheduled both sides to give full arguments on Friday.

The GOP legislators said they’ve previously discussed the matter in private with Ducey but “are now calling upon him publicly on behalf of our constituents.”

Here are the lawmakers behind the message, in order of how they are listed on the statement:

  • Rep. Jake Hoffman
  • Speaker Pro Tempore Travis Grantham
  • House Majority Whip Leo Biasiucci
  • Rep. Brenda Barton
  • Rep. Walt Blackman
  • Rep. Shawnna Bolick
  • Rep. Judy Burges
  • Rep. Joseph Chaplik
  • Rep. John Fillmore
  • Rep. Mark Finchem
  • Rep. Steve Kaiser
  • Rep. Quang Nguyen
  • Rep. Becky Nutt
  • Rep. Jacqueline Parker
  • Rep. Beverly Pingerelli
  • Rep. Bret Roberts
  • Rep. Justin Wilmeth
  • Senate Majority Whip Sonny Borrelli
  • Sen. Nancy Barto
  • Sen. Sine Kerr
  • Sen. David Livingston
  • Sen. J.D. Mesnard
  • Sen. Warren Petersen
  • Sen. Wendy Rogers
  • Sen. Kelly Townsend
  • Sen. Michelle Ugenti-Rita

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Pass it along to the KTAR News team here.

Arizona News

Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap has downsized his external communications staff from seven to ...

Associated Press

New Maricopa County recorder signals shift away from combating disinformation

Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap is moving away from the office's previous efforts to combat misinformation.

2 hours ago

2025 flu season worse than it's been in 15 years, data shows...

Serena O'Sullivan

Arizona nurse practitioner says this flu season is worse than last

The 2025 flu season is hitting Arizonans hard, with some patients staying sick for a whole week, according to a Banner Health nurse practitioner.

3 hours ago

climate change, young people, Mesa...

Roxanne De La Rosa

Young adults and teens combat climate change through Mesa initiative

A new Mesa grant initiative will allow young adults and teens to compete for funding for projects and ideas that address climate change.

4 hours ago

Fountain Hills law enforcement...

Roxanne De La Rosa

Fountain Hills announces drop in law enforcement costs without reduced service

A law enforcement contract between Fountain Hills and the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office will drop in cost in the upcoming year without any reduction in service.

4 hours ago

Investigators look at a crashed Learjet at Scottsdale Airport after it collided with a parked plane...

Associated Press

1 killed, 3 injured in Scottsdale Airport runway crash involving Mötley Crüe singer’s plane

One person died and three others were hurt when a plane owned by Mötley Crüe's singer collided with another plane the Scottsdale Airport runway.

12 hours ago

drug bust...

Roxanne De La Rosa

Police arrest 5 suspects in social media drug ring

Five suspects took part in a social media drug ring and were arrested for trafficking military style weapons, firearms and drugs.

12 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

...

Asset Preservation Wealth & Tax

How to optimize the most money in 2024 tax returns

As tax season begins, getting your financials in order is important to maximize your tax return.

...

Fiesta Bowl Foundation

Join us for the 52nd annual Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Parade

The 52nd annual Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Parade presented by Lerner & Rowe returns on Saturday, December 28, at 10 a.m.

...

Day & Night Air Conditioning, Heating and Plumbing

Why a Heating Tune-Up is Essential Before Winter

PHOENIX, AZ — With cooler weather on the horizon, making sure your heating system is prepped and ready can make all the difference in staying comfortable this winter.

Arizona GOP lawmakers want Ducey to penalize schools that require masks