Texas Sues Biden For “Unlawfully Issued” Rule – AG Paxton Claims Joe’s Federal Order Disrespects the Constitution

As the country continues to struggle through the pandemic, many health experts are hoping these are the final stages. States and cities around the nation are beginning to relax their restrictions and guidelines.

However, face mask mandates remain in place in many cases. Some students still have to wear them in schools, and certain businesses still require their employees and customers to wear masks.

But Texas doesn’t like the lingering federal mandate — and they’re suing to stop it.

The Biden administration originally mandated that all businesses with 100 or more employees must implement a vaccine requirement. But after several high-profile court battles, that rule was rescinded.

And as far as Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is concerned, the next mandate that needs to go involves air travel.

While the aforementioned business vaccine mandate is gone, a federal mask mandate on airplanes and in airports remains. AG Paxton believes this is “unlawful” and he’s fighting to get it removed.

Citing the Constitution and referring to Congress, the Texas lawmaker leveled a lawsuit at the Biden administration, and he’s hoping for a positive result.

Paxton, along with Texas Public Policy Foundation head legal counsel Rob Henneke, submitted the following statement (via Fox News):

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) mandate was unlawfully issued.

It was not authorized by Congress, and the CDC did not put the mandate up for notice and comment, which is ordinarily required for regulations like this.

Yet a person’s failure to comply with the Administration’s mask mandate carries criminal penalties.

This isn’t the first time politicians have pushed back against federal pandemic rules, typically saying either the Biden administration or the CDC overstepped its authority.

In this case, Texas claims the government is pushing a rule that never had to go through Congress and yet, citizens can face criminal punishment for failing to comply.

Paxton also specifically singled out President Biden in his statement:

Biden’s repeated disregard of the individual liberties of Texans is not only disrespectful to the U.S. Constitution, it is also troublesome that any president thinks they can act above the law while hardworking Americans standby.

President Biden cannot continue governing through executive edicts. Now is the time to strike down his administration’s air-travel mask mandate. I’m proud to stand alongside my friend Congresswoman Van Duyne and her counsel at TPPF to protect Texans’ liberty and the rule of law.

Paxton is no stranger to suing the federal government.

The Texas AG successfully fought the current administration on previous mandates, and was one of the first to obtain an injunction against Biden’s plan to get all federal healthcare workers vaccinated.

Until March 18, masks are required on airplanes by the federal government, and White House Chief Medical Adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci said the rule should stay in place.

He said in December that the idea of removing the masks “is really not something we should even be considering.” That isn’t flying with Texas, though, and now the administration is facing another lawsuit.

Recent numbers show declining coronavirus cases and an increasing number of vaccinated individuals. And some countries are quickly relaxing their mandates.

Texas will undoubtedly use these statistics in its latest court battle, but Biden’s team is clearly intent on being cautious.

Key Takeaways:

• Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is leading another lawsuit against the Biden administration.
• They’re suing to get the federal mask mandate for airplanes removed.
• Paxton claims it’s an “unlawful” rule and “disrespectful to the Constitution.”

Source: Fox News

Ben S. Dutka is a journalist, writer and editor with over two decades of experience. He has worked with three newspapers and eight online publications, and he has also won a Connecticut short story contest entitled Art as Muse, Imaginary Realms. He has a penchant for writing, rowing, reading, video games, and Objectivism.