Maryland Gov. Hogan bans counties from ordering blanket closures of schools.

[elleng]

'Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan on Monday stripped local governments’ authority to issue blanket closures of schools, following his disagreement with a Montgomery County decision to shutter private as well as public schools.

A revised emergency order issued by the Republican governor on Monday continues to allow counties to order closures or modifications at businesses and organizations. However it now exempts schools from that authority, overturning Montgomery County’s school closure order.

Hogan said in a statement that schools themselves should have the primary authority to determine whether and how to open buildings for classes.

Local health officials can still shut down individual schools if they are deemed to be unsafe.

The decision for many school systems to offer online learning instead of in-person learning this fall was made by local school boards. Some private schools have said they plan to offer modified in-person instruction.

In Montgomery County, however, health officer Dr. Travis Gayles ordered on Friday that private schools must not offer in-person instruction through Oct. 1 — keeping the private schools in line with the public school system that will teach classes online.

“At this point the data does not suggest that in-person instruction is safe for students or teachers,” Gayles said.

Hogan took exception to the decision in Montgomery, tweeting his opposition over the weekend and then issuing his order on Monday afternoon.

“Private and parochial schools deserve the same opportunity and flexibility to make reopening decisions based on public health guidelines,” Hogan said in a statement Monday. “The blanket closure mandate imposed by Montgomery County was overly broad and inconsistent with the powers intended to be delegated to the county health officer.”'>>>

https://www.baltimoresun.com/coronavirus/bs-md-hogan-schools-order-20200803-v3clsgss6fgo3d4t2qagepngsa-story.html?

[Miguelito Loveless]

1. Yes, because you know those Christian schools

are all about Jesus protecting them from viruses, not that nasty, demonic science. Since none of their faculty sleep with demons they are perfectly safe.

[jorgevlorgan]

2. Is he up for re election this year. By chance?

[elleng]

3. Some think looking @ repug presidential nomination.

Note:

'Hogan said in a statement that schools themselves should have the primary authority to determine whether and how to open buildings for classes.

Local health officials can still shut down individual schools if they are deemed to be unsafe. . . In Montgomery County, however, health officer Dr. Travis Gayles ordered on Friday that private schools must not offer in-person instruction through Oct. 1 — keeping the private schools in line with the public school system that will teach classes online.

“At this point the data does not suggest that in-person instruction is safe for students or teachers,” Gayles said.

Hogan took exception to the decision in Montgomery, tweeting his opposition over the weekend and then issuing his order on Monday afternoon. . . The Archdiocese of Baltimore operates dozens of Catholic schools in the region that plan to stay open for in-person instruction this fall.'

[jorgevlorgan]

4. Oh shit. Like this year?

[elleng]

5. Doubt it.

'During his January 2019 inaugural address, Hogan hinted he was considering launching a Republican primary challenge against President Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election.[121] In March 2019, Hogan said he was listening to many who were encouraging him to challenge Trump and would not rule it out.[122] In an April 2019 event in New Hampshire, Hogan said he intended to give "serious consideration" to a primary challenge to Trump.[123] Polls conducted in April and May 2019 suggested Hogan would receive the votes of 24% of Republican voters against 68% for Trump in the Maryland Republican primary.[124] In June 2019, Hogan announced that he would not challenge Trump in the 2020 Republican primaries in order to focus on governing Maryland and chairing the National Governors Association.[125] Shortly afterward, Hogan commented that he had no interest in running for the U.S. Senate in 2022, but left open the possibility of running for president in 2024.[126] He also launched An America United, a national advocacy group that is also intended to raise Hogan's profile and give him a voice on the national level.[126]'

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Hogan#Presidential_politics

[Midnight Writer]

6. This is the guy being touted as a "reasonable Republican".

The media love Hogan because he's not quite as crazy as Trump.

[Ohiogal]

7. Sign from an anti school closure protest recently in.Cleveland

The disconnect is so strong with these people .... it’s hopeless....

[GopherGal]

8. Because of Barron?

Does this happen if there wasn't all the publicity about the order extending to Barron's private school?

That publicity arising from Barron's school being affected gives the MoCo order a high enough profile that Hogan has an opportunity to score points with the evangelical crowd by countermanding it. I suppose it may also butter up Barron's mother's husband, but the Fanta Menace may be losing some of his grip on the party loyalists in the near future.