Republican Sen. Rand Paul (Ky.) joined Hill.TV’s “Rising” on Tuesday to discuss how policymakers on both sides of the aisle are starting to support dropping COVID-19 restrictions.
“It is evidence that this is spreading beyond a Republican, Democrat thing,” Paul said. “That now you actually have Democrat governors” dropping mandates.
His comments come after four states with Democratic governors — Delaware, New Jersey, Connecticut and Oregon — have announced plans to drop mask mandates for children in schools in the coming weeks.
“I think they’re hearing the pushback. I think they are getting the pushback from moms and dads in schools,” Paul said. “Also, it is just absurd.”
Paul has been a vocal critic of mandates throughout the pandemic, saying people should have the choice whether to wear a mask or get the COVID-19 vaccine.
“I think we could just try freedom for a while and each individual will make their own decision,” he said.
Paul, who has had a running feud with Dr. Anthony Fauci, also went after the White House’s chief medical advisor on “Rising,” saying he has done “very little” good throughout the pandemic.
“I think he represents central planning and the same way central planning doesn’t work for an economy it doesn’t work for medical advice or medical dictates,” Paul said.
“When you essentialize the authority in one person […] his dictates permeate throughout the whole economy and so any of his mistakes are magnified throughout the rest of the world.”
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