In another step towards pushing back against Covid tyranny in the United States, a bill sponsored by Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.) was passed with bipartisan support in the Senate that would get rid of mask mandates on public transportation.
The bill was supported by eight Senate Democrats and all but one Senate Republican. Senator Mitt Romney (R-Ut.) voted against lifting the mandates.
President Biden is likely to veto the bill as his administration plans to extend the mask mandate until April 18th when it will be reviewed.
Democratic Senator Tim Kaine, who was a leading advocate against the bill to repeal the mandate, said he opposed the bill because it would prevent the CDC from imposing future mandates if there was another upsurge in Covid-19.
The bill still will now move to the House for a vote, where other bills to repeal Covid restrictions have remained in limbo.
“The Senate on Tuesday voted to nix a requirement to wear masks on public transportation as the country rolls back coronavirus rules and restrictions.
Senators voted 57-40 on the resolution, which would reduce Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) requirements that most people wear masks on public transportation, including trains, airplanes and buses.
Hassan, Kelly, Bennet and Cortez Masto are up for reelection in November. Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), who is not, was the only GOP senator to vote against the resolution.
Despite the win for Paul, the resolution is likely to hit a wall in the House. It would also need to overcome a likely veto by President Biden.
“We have it within our power today to ensure the American people that we are irreversibly going back to normal,” Paul said during a floor speech.”
