Texas has recorded COVID deaths since removing its mask mandate — thousands of them
U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, a Republican of Colorado, invoked Gov. Greg Abbott’s repeal of the state’s mask mandate to illustrate how Republicans, and not Democrats, are basing COVID-19 policies on science. During a May 19 interview on Dr. Gina Prime Time with host Gina Loudon, a conservative TV personality on the web-based network Real America’s Voice and former campaign surrogate for President Donald Trump, Boebert and Loudon blasted House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., over Democrats’ mask rules.
House rules state that, until all members and staff are fully vaccinated, masks are required on the House floor and in committee meeting rooms, with fines of $500 for the first offense and $2,500 for the second offense, Politico reported
As of May 14, all House Democrats reported having received a COVID-19 vaccine. Ninety-five of the 212 Republican House members reported being vaccinated, with 112 Republicans not responding to a survey, according to CNN.
Boebert was one of many House Republicans who joined a maskless protest within the House chamber alongside a dozen other members, including Texas representatives Chip Roy, Beth Van Duyne and Louie Gohmert, according to Politico. Their protest argued that leaving the mask-wearing rules in place contravened the latest guidelines released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which eased face covering guidelines for vaccinated people.
“It just goes to show that this party’s ‘follow the science’ slogan is a total joke,” Boebert said.
Then she referenced Abbott’s move to lift the statewide mask rules effective March 10 as part of an effort to “open Texas 100%.”
“Texas removed their mask mandate two months ago, and sleepy Joe called it Neanderthal thinking,” she said. “No sir. Republicans are just following the science. And since removing the mask mandate two months ago, Texas has not reported a single COVID death. Not one.” …
Read the full story and see how Boebert’s claim rated at PolitiFact Texas. And listen to an interview with PolitiFact’s Brandon Mulder in the audio player above.
