Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
24 Republicans sign letter to support repeal
Rep. Joe Schmick
COLFAX — A local state lawmaker is calling on the governor to rescind his order requiring public school students to wear masks on campus.
Ninth Legislative District Rep. Joe Schmick, R-Colfax, wrote a letter to Gov. Jay Inslee on Aug. 9 calling for him to back off the gubernatorial mandate. In addition, 24 other Republicans signed the letter.
The 9th Legislative District includes Adams, Asotin, Franklin, Garfield, Whitman, and southern Spokane Counties.
Citing the state Department of Health and the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Schmick suggested the governor's mask edict lacks a scientific basis.
Inslee reaffirmed his mask mandate for everyone on public school campuses during an Aug. 9 press conference.
"As mentioned by your public health official during the press conference, the risk of breakthrough is low, and the main drive of transmission is from unvaccinated individuals," the letter said. "For those students who are not vaccinated, either because they are too young or otherwise, the risk COVID-19 presents to children is extremely low."
The letter noted that only 0.16% of COVID deaths are individuals younger than 19.
"Hospitalizations are statistically minuscule," the letter said.
The letter asks the governor to focus on education rather than his mask mandate.
According to the letter, masks are a hardship on everyone in schools.
"The bottom line is we need to focus on what's best for students. They have already faced extensive learning loss, significant mental and behavioral health issues, and more," the letter said. "Masks take away from students being able to learn effectively ...
"Masks interrupt learning, speech and language development, and can also further isolate students who are already struggling."
The letter requests control of masks in schools is left to parents or local school officials.
"As you mention in your proclamation, student and parental choice must be respected," the letter said. "For parents who do not want their kids to suffer (from) masks, the only option left is to homeschool.
The letter notes state Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal is threatening to take constitutionally protected money away from school districts refusing to order masks.
"Should those education dollars be withheld from schools, I believe the state would face further litigation," the letter said.
Republicans signing Schmick's letter include Jenny Graham, R-Spokane, Tom Dent, R-Moses Lake, Mike Volz, R-Spokane, Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick, Rob Chase, R-Spokane Valley, Bob McCaslin, R-Spokane Valley, Mary Dye, R-Pomeroy, and others.
Roger Harnack is the owner/publisher of Free Press Publishing. Having grown up Benton City, Roger is an award-winning journalist, photographer, editor and publisher. He's one of only two editorial/commentary writers from Washington state to ever receive the international Golden Quill. Roger is dedicated to the preservation of local media, and the voice it retains for Eastern Washington.
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