Florida Judge Strikes Down Airport Mask Mandate; GOP Celebrates

Republicans around the state of Florida have been celebrating after the provision mandating masks in airports and airplanes has been lifted. The mandate was lifted by federal judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle, who was appointed by former President Donald Trump (R). According to The New York Post, Mizelle made the decision because the CDC “failed to properly explain its decision to impose the mandate or follow proper rulemaking procedures.”

No matter what the reason is, Republicans were happy.

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) exclaimed in a tweet:

“I enthusiastically pushed Judge Mizelle to be a district court judge” and that “she issued a common sense decision that makes me especially proud that I did," stated Sen. Rubio

Sen. Rubio also pointed out in a tweet that those who are opposed to ending Title 42 (a provision allowing the President to control border crossings due to worries about public health, such as a pandemic) were also in favor of keeping the mask mandate for airports.

“The people who are angry that Americans don’t have to wear a mask on a plane anymore are the same ones who want to end the Title 42 Covid rule for illegal immigrants”

State Rep. Anthony Sabatini (R-FL) called Judge Mizelle “Floridian of the Year!”

Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL) sang the chorus of victory in a tweet as well.

“Victory! The federal Middle District of Florida district court has struck down the CDC’s unconstitutional mask mandate on planes. That means airlines are ending their mandates effectively IMMEDIATELY! Leave it to Florida to pave the way for freedom across the country!”

It is apparent that Republicans were excited. However, Democrats stayed quiet for the most part.

However, according to an article by Matthew Yglesias for Bloomberg, this mandate repeal is actually a gift for democrats. In March, the Senate voted 57-40 to end the mandate. However, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) was “in no particular rusn” to bring the mandate to a vote in the House because it could divide the party and hand a loss to the Biden administration. Perhaps it explains the motivation of the Democratic Party to yield any reaction on such a divisive issue.