The Florida Senate

Senate Democratic Leader Lauren Book (D-Plantation) on Friday applauded Leon County Circuit Judge John Cooper’s ruling rejecting the governor’s statewide public school mask ban. 

 “As the Senate Democratic Caucus has maintained, and Judge Cooper ruled today, the Governor overstepped his constitutional authority by ordering a blanket statewide mask ban. This politically driven power grab put the health and safety of millions of Florida’s children, their families, and their communities at risk. 

“I applaud the brave parents who brought forth this legal challenge, and the courageous leaders from 10 school districts who stood up to the Governor’s unlawful orders and threats of retaliation in an effort to keep children safe.  

“As Judge Cooper noted, it remains under each district’s authority to provide for the health and safety of children, based on and tailored to the unique conditions they face, as the Constitution and Florida statutes clearly provide. I urge districts across the state to heed the guidance of public health experts, scientists, and the physicians on the front lines and make the right choice for Florida’s children.” 

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