Posted on 07/13/2021 10:54:39 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Barefaced lawmakers break Biden COVID-19 regs, risk $1.75 million fine
A publicity stunt could cost Texas Democrats up to $1.75 million after lawmakers went maskless on their privately chartered planes to Washington, D.C., violating Biden administration regulations on air travel.
More than 50 state legislators chartered private flights on Monday in an attempt to prevent the Republican-led legislature from passing a number of election- and gun-related bills. The group posted a photo aboard an airplane showing that at least 18 participants on one flight shunned masks, a violation that carries fines up to $35,000 per offense and potential criminal penalties, should federal officials take action.
President Joe Biden extended the Centers for Disease Control's mask mandate to private charter planes on Jan. 30, one of the first executive orders after he took office. The Federal Aviation Administration, which enforces the mask mandate, says it reserves the right to bring fines of up to $35,000 or criminal penalties against those who fail to abide by the mandate. Neither the Federal Aviation Administration nor the Transportation Security Administration responded to requests for comment.
"[The] order from CDC is part of a comprehensive, science-driven, U.S. government response to the COVID-19 pandemic. One component of the whole-of-government response is taking actions related to reducing virus spread through travel," the CDC wrote in a statement. "Transmission of the virus through travel has led to—and continues to lead to—interstate and international spread of the virus."
On April 30, the Transportation Security Administration extended its face mask requirement for travelers on commercial flights, trains, and buses to Sept. 13. Thousands of passengers have been banned from carriers for failing to follow the mask mandate.
Biden singled out Texas Republicans in March when he said only "Neanderthal thinking" could lead people to not wear masks. The Texas Democrats' failure to follow federal law comes at a time of growing concerns about the Delta variant, a more communicable and potentially deadly strain of COVID-19. Data provided by the CDC show that individuals vaccinated against COVID-19 can still carry and spread the Delta variant, according to White House chief medical adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci. More than 50 percent of all new COVID-19 cases are from the Delta variant.
RVR Aviation, which carried the Democrats into Dulles International Airport, did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
The violation of federal law constitutes the latest legal woes for the Texas Democrats after the state's governor, Republican Greg Abbott, said he would order the arrest of the legislators when they return home.
"They will be cabined inside the Texas capitol until they get their job done," Abbott said.
Nothing will happen to them.
HAH. Like this makes the slightest difference to the most lawless administration in the history of any democratic society EVER? Don’t let us get into the difference between a democracy and a democratically elected representative republic !HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA
We are SO screwed!
SloJo - or whoever is running FedGov today in his (mental) absence - will grant them a full and complete pardon, NO DOUBT.
“Just sign it, Joe”
Used to be that the states would make visitors from a risky location quarantine for 10-14 days or show a negative covid test before being allowed out. Wouldn’t it be grand if the runaway legislators would get the choice of staying locked in a hotel for two weeks or returning to Texas where they’d be detained in the legislative chambers to do their jobs.
I’m not certain about this, but I’d bet the Texas legislature members aren’t nearly as well heeled as their multimillionaire comrades in DC, and the longer this gets dragged out, the harder it is going to be for them to sustain their resistance. Wasn’t “the process is the punishment” once part of the playbook? Of course in this case, it’s all self inflicted.
Private planes.
Do they realize, how much environmental damage they committed?!
They surely need to pay for Carbon offset!
I agree, they will all walk, but Abbott better have them arrested, or he will lose a ton of credibility, after saying he would.
Dems that defy Biden... lol
A Rat’s a #ing Rat.
Why are they not being charged with insurrection, like non- democrats are when they go to DC to participate in the governmental process and make their voices heard?
Bet Pelosi never paid the fine for skirting the metal detector.
I hope they don’t get bail either because somebody will come along and pay it.
........these people are so goofy, they couldn’t run a lemonade stand.........
Running a lemonade stand is a lot trickier than you think.
Republicans are stupid. These Texas Democrats fly to Mordor on the Potomac to avoid doing their duty, and what does the Republican newspaper article complain about? They didn’t put a stupid beast mask on! Again, it’s no wonder that Republicans always lose.
This is shocking! Talk about "cruel and unusual punishments"!! Is anybody else besides me stunned?
How on earth can this be!!?? Who has the Constitutional authority to make such a draconian "law" for such a trivial offense and enforce it with faceless bureaucrats?
"Our" federal government is completely out of control. Even King George III would not have dared pull such an outrage as this!
these politicians actions are more evidence that proves we’re being lied to about the severity of the so called “deadly covid virus”...
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