Lawmakers overturned the governor’s executive order banning religious groups of more than 10 — though many churches have voluntarily moved online
We’ve removed our paywall from essential coronavirus news stories. Become a subscriber to support our journalists. Subscribe now.
On Wednesday, Kansas experienced its greatest increase in coronavirus cases of any day yet, as 146 new patients were confirmed to have the virus. Though it remains relatively unharmed by the pandemic — as of Wednesday, its 1,046 cases ranked 37th of all states — three of Kansas’s greatest outbreaks have involved religious gatherings, leading to Governor Laura Kelly’s executive order on Tuesday limiting the size of religious congregations and funerals ahead of Easter.
But on Wednesday, the day the order was to be implemented, state Republicans prioritized freedom of religion over public health. First, Republican Attorney General Derek Schmidt issued a memo discouraging law enforcement agencies from enforcing the requirements. Kelly described the AG’s action as “unusual” and “nonsensical, as an executive order carries the force of the law,” while the AG’s recommendation “has no legal authority whatsoever.
Shortly after Schmidt’s memo, Republican lawmakers overturned the executive order, claiming that it impedes on religious rights — even though many churches canceled Easter services voluntarily or intend to hold them online. “It appears to be out of line, extreme and clearly in violation, a blatant violation, of our fundamental rights,” said Senate president Susan Wagle.
Independent of any religious holidays occurring this weekend, the move is alarming, considering the spread of the virus in the state, where confirmed cases more than doubled in the past week. And while governors in 43 other states have imposed similar restrictions on religious gatherings, GOP lawmakers’ decision in Kansas could cause outsized harm considering the potential size of Easter services being held on Sunday.
France Dernières Nouvelles, France Actualités
Similar News:Vous pouvez également lire des articles d'actualité similaires à celui-ci que nous avons collectés auprès d'autres sources d'information.
Sen. Tammy Baldwin: Time after time, Wisconsin GOP ‘have acted to disenfranchise voters’Thousands in Wisconsin endured hours of long lines to vote in the primary. Despite Governor Tony Evers’ order to postpone the election, the state Supreme Court blocked the order. Senator Tammy Baldwin says, “Wisconsin has a long pattern of this … Time after time, they have acted to disenfranchise people to make it tougher and tougher to vote.”
Lire la suite »
Josh Hawley sets up potential clash in GOP with coronavirus pushMost Senate Republicans are taking a cautious approach to the next step of Congress’ coronavirus response. Not Josh Hawley
Lire la suite »
Coronavirus Is Forcing the GOP to Admit Its Ideology Is DelusionalThe coronavirus pandemic has forced Republicans to (tacitly, quietly) make some startling admissions about the party's ideology. EricLevitz writes
Lire la suite »
Charlie Sykes: Wisconsin GOP legislature is forcing people to choose between their civic duty and healthWATCH: SykesCharlie says Republicans in Wisconsin's legislature 'are so adamantly opposed to expanding mail-in voting that they're forcing Wisconsinites ... to choose between doing their civic duty and protecting their health.'
Lire la suite »
The Wisconsin GOP Is Risking Voters’ Lives to Protect Its Minority RuleRepublicans are disenfranchising voters by holding an election mid-pandemic so that they can keep disenfranchising Democrats through gerrymanders.
Lire la suite »
Trump: GOP should fight mail-in voting because it ‘doesn’t work out well for Republicans’President Trump directs Republicans to 'fight very hard' against efforts to expand mail-in voting amid the coronavirus pandemic, , suggesting that such a shift in ballot-casting practices would yield unfavorable electoral results for the GOP
Lire la suite »