ND Senate passes anti-mask bill

MINOT, N.D. – House Bill 1323, sponsored by Rep. Jeff Hoverson, R-Minot, had passed the House 50-44. It goes back for House action on the amendment, added on the Senate floor, to give employers, local governments and schools the ability to require mask use in thier jurisdictions.

Legislators were heavily lobbied on both sides of the bill.

Sen. Howard Anderson, R-Turtle Lake, who presented the committee’s 6-1 recommendation to kill the bill, listed diseases with much higher death rates than COVID-19 and questioned whether the state wants the mask option off the table in any future epidemic.

He said the governor issued a mask mandate last fall after COVID-19 patients filled up the state’s hospitals and most medical professionals were asking for help.

“The executive branch needs to make decisions about the public’s good,” he said. “Decisions were made. Sometimes they might be wrong but, Mr. President, somebody has to govern.”

Senate President and Lt. Gov. Brent Sanford banged his gavel a few times to halt interruptions created by chamber gallery applause following arguments made by senators on either side of the issue.

Republican Sen. Brad Bekkedahl, a Williston dentist, said he wears a mask to protect others.

“Nobody can tell me that masks don’t help,” he said. “Sometimes in our society, we forget that we should care for others.”

Sen. Terry Wanzek, R-Jamestown, said the debate isn’t about whether masks work but whether common good should infringe on individual freedom. He suggested infringing on individual freedom isn’t necessary for people to do the right thing.

“I believe good people, when they are educated and informed, will make good decisions,” he said.

“Liberty always trumps safety, at least for North Dakota and its history,” said Sen. Janne Myrdal, R-Edinburg, a supporter of HB 1323. “I don’t think anybody that is against the mask mandate wants anyone to get sick or die. I think it’s just the reality of we don’t want to be bound by political powers to deal with medical issues in our lives.”

Sen. Jessica Bell, R-Beulah, offered the amendment to limit the prohibition to statewide officials and state health officer, calling the move a compromise to “help strike a balance between freedom and safety.”

The amendment passed 37-10 on a verification vote, in which the electronic voting board remains dark and individual votes are secret.

Sens. David Hogue and bill co-sponsor Oley Larsen, both R-Minot, voted for bill passage. Sens. Karen Krebsbach and Randy Burckhard, both R-Minot, voted against.

In the previous House vote, all Minot legislators supported HB 1323.

ND Senate passes anti-mask bill

Follow us on Google News

Follow us on Flipboard

Trending Slider

Sen. Cramer backs bill to close loophole that allows illegal immigrants to be released when their countries refuse to take them back, says they should remain in custody until deported

Bismarck reopens all Main Ave lanes after downtown road construction ahead of schedule

Bismarck police ask public for help locating 16-year-old runaway

Sen. Cramer slams Democrats after Senate passes bill to avert government shutdown, says their “distaste” of Trump is greater than willingness to do their job

North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong declares statewide fire emergency as more than 56% of the state faces drought and officials warn of intense wildfire season

Bismarck police remind residents of North Dakota kratom ban

Follow us on News Break

Categories

ND Senate passes anti-mask bill

Related posts

ND Lawmakers pass bill to aid homeless youth

North Dakota Democratic-NPL elects new chair

Minot violated law by withholding City Manager investigation records

Minot City Council Special Meeting

Minot City Council votes to approve $140K settlement with former city manager

Two items Minot residents may want to keep an eye on this legislative session

Follow us on Google News

Follow us on Flipboard

Sen. Cramer backs bill to close loophole that allows illegal immigrants to be released when their countries refuse to take them back, says they should remain in custody until deported

Bismarck reopens all Main Ave lanes after downtown road construction ahead of schedule

Bismarck police ask public for help locating 16-year-old runaway

Sen. Cramer slams Democrats after Senate passes bill to avert government shutdown, says their “distaste” of Trump is greater than willingness to do their job

North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong declares statewide fire emergency as more than 56% of the state faces drought and officials warn of intense wildfire season

Bismarck police remind residents of North Dakota kratom ban