Fort Wayne Journal Gazette: Rep. Bob Morris of Fort Wayne said “in reality we really aren’t sure masks work.”
CDC studies prove wearing a mask could reduce COVID-19 transmission by at least 70-percent
INGOP still refuses to hold Party Leaders accountable for promoting dangerous health guidelines to Hoosiers
INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Democratic Party, the organization that advocates for the future of Indiana and its families, today slammed State Representative Bob Morris for disregarding the effectiveness of wearing a mask during the COVID-19 pandemic, a virus that’s killed about 10,000 Hoosiers. Morris’s statement during an Indiana House hearing yesterday continued a disturbing pattern by the Indiana Republican Party of ignoring health recommendations by the Centers of Disease Control in favor of Trumpism, a fringe political ideology that doesn’t believe in science, data, or truth.
What’s worse, the Indiana Republican Party — including Governor Eric Holcomb — simply will not hold its elected officials accountable. This arrogance caused health concerns throughout the Indiana General Assembly earlier this month, with the Indiana Statehouse Police considering enforcement measures for visitors who refuse to abide by the state’s mask mandate.
WHY IT MATTERS: By appealing only to Trumpism, the INGOP is breaking the trust voters have placed in them to get Indiana out of the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, they are choosing to incite the same fringe rhetoric that led to the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on January 6. These fringe, rhetorical stances continue the overall fracturing of the Indiana Republican Party.
This is not the only time Members of the Indiana Republican Party discredited the truth in favor of their own fringe beliefs. Here’s just a glimpse of how little Hoosier Republicans care about being responsible adults while serving the state:
The Center Square: [GOP] Indiana lawmaker questions if mask mandate was backdoor deal with the teachers union
IndyStar: “Rep. Curt Nisly, R-Milford, and Rep. John Jacob, R-Indianapolis, each have criticized Holcomb’s mask mandate and neither wore masks Tuesday.”
Fort Wayne Journal Gazette: “Rep. John Jacob and Rep. Curt Nisly are chatting in the House – unmasked of course. They also did not wear masks on Organization Day.
Fort Wayne Journal Gazette (Part Two): Rep. Jim Lucas just came into the House – also not wearing a mask.
Indianapolis Business Journal: The House session just started. Multiple lawmakers either walking around without a mask on or taking it off at their desk. Majority still have the mask on at their seats though.
Associated Press: New GOP Rep. Joanna King of Elkhart County also maskless and seated next to Nisly. All other Indiana House members gathering appear to have masks on. Staffers are required to wear masks
Associated Press (Part Two): King has put a mask on as the House session starts. But GOP Rep. JD Prescott doesn’t have one on. I can’t see many of the members from my seat
Associated Press (Part Three): I also see GOP Reps. Denny Zent and Stephen Bartels without masks. At least 5 Republicans in my view are without masks as House discusses rule changes to accommodate the Legislature’s COVID-19 precautions.
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