Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan called for his state’s schools to lift mask mandates, noting that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have created confusion with their delayed decision-making regarding COVID-19 precautions.
When CNN’s Jake Tapper asked Hogan whether parents and schools should be listening to the CDC or to him, the Republican governor said the health agency has been “far behind” on its COVID-19 policies.
“Yes, CDC is far behind,” Hogan said. “They have had confusing and delayed decision-making, confusing guidance. I think there is general consensus. We were at the White House with all the governors, a week or so ago, and it is nearly universal, bipartisan support for moving forward and putting this thing behind us and not living in fear of the virus but finding a way to live with it.”
Hogan acknowledged that he had supported the restrictions initially, including masking and school closures, but that it is time to “get back to normal.”
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“The kids have suffered so much, and I think the CDC will likely have to take action, but in the meantime, I believe our schools, our state Board of Education is going to act in the next week or so to move forward and take masks off the kids,” Hogan said. “We’re at the point now where kids are having a difficulty catching up and learning. We had all the closures, people working remotely, now working with masking. I think it’s safe enough for our kids to get back to normal.”
Tapper also asked Hogan about Sen. Mitch McConnell’s recent attempt to convince the Maryland governor to run for the U.S. Senate in a bid to flip one senate seat and gain Republican control.
Hogan declined to enter his name into a Senate race but hinted at a possible 2024 bid for the White House.
“I was very flattered that they were expressing interest and encouraging me to run, and certainly made the argument that I could be a voice of reason and sanity in Washington, but I just have never had a desire to be a U.S. senator,” Hogan said. “I’ll run the state of Maryland as governor for the next year. I’m going to continue to be a voice. I’m not going to sit back and not be involved in the issues of the day. I’m concerned about the direction of the party and country, and I’ll make a decision about 2024 after I finish this job.”
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The governor asserted that the Republican Party needs to focus on the future.
“I think they’re focused on the wrong things, not just being a roadblock to Biden,” Hogan said. “There’s certain things we want to stand up to with President Biden. The inflation is out of control, and we’re talking about trillions in more spending. We want to make sure we do stand up and speak out. But I’m concerned that they’re focusing too much on looking at the past and trying to re-litigate the last election and arguing about things instead of having a positive, hopeful vision for America.”
