In the latest of several steps he has taken to set himself apart from the majority of the Republican Party, Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) voted against lifting a mask mandate for children as young as two who take part in the nation’s Head Start program.
The Biden administration requires “universal masking for all individuals two years of age and older” participating in the government-run preschool program. It also requires all employees, contractors, and volunteers who come into contact with children receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
An amendment offered by Sen. Mike Braun (R-IN) to the PREVENT Pandemics Act would “prevent HHS from implementing or enforcing their regulations regarding mask or vaccination protections in the Head Start program again.”
Video footage of the vote shows Romney became the only Republican member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee to vote against the measure — including Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Susan Collins (R-ME), who frequently deviate from the Republican mainstream. The former Republican standard bearer joined all HELP committee Democrats in striking down Braun’s amendment by a 12-10 vote. Read more…