Florida and 20 other states sue to stop mask mandate for travel

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The fight over the federal mask mandate for travel is heating up with Gov. Ron DeSantis and Attorney General Ashley Moody announcing Tuesday the State of Florida has filed suit against the Biden administration in an effort to overthrow the mandate.

Florida isn’t the only state involved in the effort.

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Moody will lead a coalition of 21 states against the mandate.

“And so, this is meant to push back on yet again, another unlawful power grab by the Biden administration,” said Moody.

The governor and attorney general said in a news conference Tuesday they believe the mandate was unconstitutional when it was first imposed and now there’s no justifying it.

“It’s turned the airlines into having to police this. It’s created a lot of unruly passenger situations because it’s so frustrating for people,” said DeSantis.

Airports are seemingly the only place left where you have to don a mask before entering.

Action News Jax observed that inside Jacksonville International Airport compliance was … inconsistent, to say the least.

That’s a sign people are ready to get back to normal, echoed by the opinions of travelers who spoke with Action News Jax.

“They can go to the President’s State of the Union and don’t wear it. The people in New York City can have ballgames and professional events with thousands of people. They don’t wear it. But you put 100 people on a plane, they have to wear a mask,” said Tony Basilio, visiting from Philadelphia.

“We’ve got to kind of go back to regular life anyway. Not to say that I’m just all for catching COVID. I’m vaccinated. All my kids are,” said Monya Rose Gibbs, headed back to her home in Savannah.

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Both were excited when we told them the State of Florida had filed suit over the issue.

But while travelers may be sick of the mitigation requirements, Action News Jax Medical Expert Dr. Michelle Aquino argued when it comes to air travel, the risk of getting COVID-19 is still too high.

“We just need a few bad apples from somewhere else that have COVID to bring it into the United States and we already know it spreads like wildfire,” said Aquino.

The announcement of the lawsuit comes just after major airlines — including Delta, United and American — also called on the Biden administration to suspend the mask mandate.

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