The White House has said it opposes a provision in a Congressional bill under consideration that would mandate the use of masks for all airline, train and public transit passengers.
White House: Mask Mandate Is Overly Restrictive
Calling it “overly restrictive” the White House insisted “such decisions should be left to states, local governments, transportation systems, and public health leaders.” Trump has threatened to veto any bill that comes to his desk that includes a mask mandate, with the White House stating:
“The Administration objects to language in the bill that requires passengers and transportation workers to wear masks on commercial airplanes, Amtrak trains, and public transit systems. This requirement is overly restrictive, and such decisions should be left to States, local governments, transportation systems, and public health leaders working together to reduce the public health risk and restore passenger confidence in these transportation systems.”
The proposed mandate comes in the form of an amendment slipped into a Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development (T-HUD) funding bill by Rep. David Price (D – North Carolina), part of H.R. 7617, a larger spending bill opposed by the White House. Price ripped into the President for opposing the mask mandate:
“President Trump’s flagrant disregard for basic public health measures is bad enough, but threatening to derail federal funding for major transportation and housing programs due to a common-sense provision to require masks on planes, trains, and buses is baffling.”
Even without a mandate from the federal government, all airlines, most transit agencies, and Amtrak already mandate facial coverings onboard. Nevertheless, airlines and Amtrak have expressed support for a nationwide mandate from the federal mandate, which would take enforcement pressure off airlines (easier to say “it’s the law” than “it’s our policy”).
CONCLUSION
The White House also seeks to eliminate funding for Amtrak’s longhaul train service and overhaul the Essential Air Service (EAS) program in its response to the funding bill under consideration. Neither is likely to be touched. But the mask mandate is a tricky political issue. Will Democrats insist upon it? Which agency would enforce it at airports across the nation? Debate will continue this week.
If my re-election campaign’s only hope for resurrection was an economic recovery, I’d be pushing every angle, like a mask mandate, to let people feel safe around others. The “masks are patriotic” propaganda could’ve really helped him, if he hadn’t given up on it. But what do I know – I never bankrupted a casino or failed at every business venture
Well said.
The economy to Trump is one thing and one thing only…the stock market. If the markets started nosediving at alarming rates and for an extended period he would shut down the country with one tweet, placing armed guards at every doorway.
What he refuses to acknowledge is that in Europe a unified approach and strict government mandates helped to salvage many other parts of the economy this summer far more than we are seeing in the U.S. And without costing lives in the process to achieve it. Yes, they are getting small surges in places but are handling it quickly – and they are nothing like the surges in the U.S. Industries that are battered in the U.S., like hospitality, are at least showing signs of life in Europe -without killing people in the process.
Amazing point.
Agent Orange really is a moron – the #1 thing, BY FAR, that would help his re-election at this point is slowing the spread (again) and getting this under control. So, logically, he opposes EVERY COMMON SENSE thing that can cheaply/effectively slow the spread.
Biden 2020! Can’t come soon enough.
This is extremely pathetic by the administration. It can’t seem to get it through its head that an aggressive approach to containing the virus is likely its only way to move the economy (and safety) forward.
It doesn’t want a mandate but is perfectly willing to force a federal mandate on relaxing fuel efficiency numbers, despite states that have their own tighter standards.
This, along with all the other federal powers that the administration selectively likes to claim, makes it pretty pathetic which side of the decision they fall on. They can’t even get their own citizens’ health as a priority.
Lol. You guys are so funny
Our president believes in Freedom.
And he’s a moron.
There is something truly pathetic about this; even in the face of the most severe crisis since WW2, the posturing buffoons of the lunatic right want to focus on meaningless individual rights. They are morally bankrupt. The inevitable landslide is going to be worse than Goldwater in ‘64. Good riddance…
If the left was so concerned about COVID-19, they wouldn’t be encouraging the gathering of crowds for the BLM protests, riots and etc. But they are not and continue to call out groups with higher COVID-19 risk, like blacks and Hispanics, to the streets. The party of the jackass needs to change its name from Democrat to Hypocrat.
Yeah like armed white men running up to state capitals lol
So when the right wing protests against lockdowns happened, Dems called it reckless. But then later, when BLM protests followed by 60+ days of violent riots, and Dems continue to encourage them, and pretend like it’s all peaceful. You libs are beyond shameless.
And you are brainless. Go lick an atmATM.
Try educating yourself: https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2020/06/30/black-lives-matter-protests-did-not-cause-an-uptick-in-covid-19-cases
https://www.forbes.com/sites/tommybeer/2020/07/01/research-determines-protests-did-not-cause-spike-in-coronavirus-cases/#75db23b77dac
Hilarious that you post articles from over 1 month ago, before any effect could reasonably be measured. Young people are also much more likely to be asymptomatic, or not ever report it because of mild symptoms, so the effect would not be detectable for some time. The Economist and sadly now even Forbes are left wing propaganda rags with an axe to grind. That’s not education, that’s re-education, as China would call it. There they do it in camps.
In any case, be consistent. If you say orange man bad because he won’t support federal law requiring masks on planes, and that he hasn’t been forceful enough on lockdowns, then stop making excuses for ongoing violations of lockdowns and mask requirements by protestors and violent rioters.
Forbes left wing? Wow you truly are a clown.
Guess you support unmarked officers grabbing protesters and throwing them in unmarked vans. Facism runs strong in you I see.
Yeah…. the Administration is against common sense too. If it doesn’t make the President look good or get him reelected, he doesn’t care, it is that simple.
Pure projection. The blame Trump shtick is played out. When Trump shut down travel from China and Europe, team Dem/China/Press/WHO cried foul. Liberal millenials are the main group violating restrictions (socializing and rioting), yet it’s still all Trump’s fault, huh? I can see why your wife cheated on you.
You are truly a POS ahole for that comment. Can’t wait to see you cry like a baby come Nov 4.
Dump is not protecting anyone but himself. Enriching himself. Scrooge McDuck makes more sense, than Dump. You love dictators?
Yes. They do. Until they come for you. But no one was left to speak for me.
Exactly! Well put, BSOD. Trump is not a president, has no qualifications to hold the office and has destroyed any global credibility the office previously had.
It would help him get re-elected, but it requires second order thinking, which he isn’t capable of
It’s a bit problematic to leave mask mandates to the states when transportation such as Amtrak or airlines is very much under federal jurisdiction.
“Passengers, we just flew over the [state] border so now you must wear your masks.”
Indeed, as for Amtrak and airlines, there can be no viable state solution.
Disingenuous reporting as usual when it comes to politics. The white house is clearly not against airlines requiring wearing masks on planes, they are just opposed to the enforcement coming from the federal government. Do you really want federal officers boarding planes to enforce federal law? Libs protested feds protecting a federal courthouse from rioters, how will they feel about policing every commerical plane? You also understand how hard it is to undo legislation when it is no longer necessary, right? Do you leftists have any critical thinking skills left, or has your TDS taken them all away?
Come on WR2, you know I am fair. I did not take a position on this at all. It is clear, and I provided the link to the White House document, that the administration is very much against a federal mandate, probably for some the reasons you lay out. Tomorrow you’ll enjoy my story on the Netherlands rejecting masks.
Has your TSS (Trump Sycophant Syndrome) run so strong that you blindly follow in lockstep with every fascist and clueless decision he makes?
Yes. And science is real. CRAZY TALK!
I swear this president is trying to KILL ALL OF US!!,A MORON! INCOMPETENT !!! WORDS COULD NOT EXPLAIN WHAT I FEEL!! GOD
HELP US ALLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!
“it is what it is”
I can’t believe he said that…unreal! The interview on Axios is, unfortunately, like an SNL skit!
I’m a proponent of subsidiarity. I also can find nowhere in the U.S. Constitution that lists mask mandating as even allowed by the Executive branch of the government. I suppose a case could be made that it could be done by the Legislative branch, but see my first sentence on subsidiarity. I’d leave it up to cities, counties, individual companies and businesses to make their own rules. United, Delta, etc can choose how to handle it. I’d prefer states not make the rule, but leave it to counties or cities, but I could also live with states mandating it. And which Federal agency would enforce it? Would we call the National Guard to ride around on planes and trains? Would the CDC have its own air marshals? Would there be a fine or jail time for refusing to comply? Would violators be tried in Federal Court? It seems like kind of a messy, expensive and extreme solution, especially when everyone is so hell-bent on defunding the police. It seems like you’d be adding a whole new branch of law enforcement. The CDC recommends everyone wear a mask while out in public and I do. It also recommended we not wear a mask when this whole thing started, but I defied them then and wore my mask anyway. So I guess I agree with Trump.