GOP Arkansas gov. regrets signing law banning mask mandates

[peppertree]

Republican Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson said Tuesday he regrets signing a law in April banning local mask mandates, as COVID-19 cases quickly rise in his state.

"Well, I signed it at the time because our cases were at a very low point. I knew that it would be overridden by the legislature if I didn't sign it," Hutchison explained in a news conference.

"And I was not supportive of - I had already eliminated our statewide mask mandate."

Hutchison's remarks come as new Covid-19 cases in the state - now mostly of Delta variant - have soared from around 200 daily in March through June, to 2,343 yesterday.

"Everything has changed now. And yes, in hindsight, I wish that had not become law, but it is the law," the governor noted.

At: https://news.yahoo.com/video/gop-arkansas-gov-regrets-signing-133313555.html

Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson with a chart displaying COVID-19 hospitalization data at a news conference in Little Rock yesterday.

The Republican governor said Tuesday he now regrets signing a law in April banning local mask mandates.

[WhiteTara]

1. I call Asa daily. I remind him he's a killer

He got booed everywhere and called a liar. I'd say Asa did his job well for his corporate masters.

[peppertree]

2. Has since the whole Mena flap

You might recall that, as Reagan's U.S. Attorney in the state at the time, he sat on the case against the "cocaine cowboy" Barry Seal - until he resigned to run (unsuccessfully) against Senator Dale Bumpers in '86.

They were obviously pleased with him, seeing as how well he's done in GOP politics since then.

[WhiteTara]

3. Ahhh. A new piece to that story

I didn't know Asa was part of Iran/Contra, but it makes sense. I always read that Clinton allowed that to happen. Of course it was the AG.

[peppertree]

4. Yeah. Repugs are very good at deflecting blame.

I remember a retired CIA agent explaining in the book Compromised that Clinton was pressured to look the other way - or else.

Not that he could've done much, if the Feds (under Reagan) were in cahoots.

Ollie North, on the other hand, basically ran the operation - but of course got off scot free thanks to Bush's pardon, arranged by Bill Barr.

The past, as Faulkner pointed out, isn't really past.