Columbia mayor’s mask plan doesn’t consider parents’ rights, McMaster’s office says

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster’s office was critical Wednesday of Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin’s emergency order to mandate masks be worn in elementary and middle schools.

“This is another attempt to force children to wear masks in schools without a bit of consideration for a parent’s right to make that decision,” said Brian Symmes, McMaster’s spokesman.

Benjamin’s order, which requires formal approval by the Columbia City Council, would have fire marshals go into elementary and middle schools to make sure students, staff and visitors are wearing masks.

Administrators could face $100 fines for violations.

But a budget proviso, a one-year law included in the state’s annual spending plan that took effect July 1, prohibits state dollars from being used to enforce mask mandates in schools.

“State law prohibits mask mandates in public schools, and the city’s ordinance would require teachers and administrators to violate state law,” Symmes said.

This story was originally published August 4, 2021 at 6:17 PM with the headline "Columbia mayor’s mask plan doesn’t consider parents’ rights, McMaster’s office says."

Joseph Bustos

The State

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Joseph Bustos is a state government and politics reporter at The State. He’s a Northwestern University graduate and previously worked in Illinois covering government and politics. He has won reporting awards in both Illinois and Missouri. He moved to South Carolina in November 2019 and won the Jim Davenport Award for Excellence in Government Reporting for his work in 2022. Support my work with a digital subscription