Spokane, Wash. (February 24, 2022) – Eastern Washington Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05) today released the following statement: 

“Kettle Falls School District canceled classes today out of fear of retribution from Governor Inslee, who is threatening drop-in inspections and devastating fines for each student who is not wearing a mask. This comes after the WA Department of Labor and Industry reversed their determination that the school district was back in compliance after reinstating the mask mandate for teachers and employees. This sudden reversal is an absolutely egregious abuse of power by Governor Inslee.

“Our governor’s willingness to destroy an entire school district for not following his radical, authoritarian, and anti-kid mask mandate is appalling. Our kids are in crisis. Cases of anxiety, depression, and suicide are surging. Test scores are plummeting, and students are falling behind. Yet for months, he has put his command-and-control tactics before the needs of our children, and now he’s trying to cash in before lifting them next month.

“Children deserve to have their lives back — unmasked to learn, thrive, and be free. The science is clear that school closures harm children’s mental health and overall well-being. We also know that the CDC continues to rely on discredited and unreliable studies to force a masking agenda on kids.

“Decisions for our kids need to be made at the local level. I strongly support the Kettle Falls School District and will stand by them in this fight. Governor Inslee is bullying our children, and he should be ashamed of himself.”

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