Arizona Governor Doug Ducey is rescinding a batch of over 20 executive orders that were issued throughout the course of the coronavirus pandemic.
The orders from the governor cover a host of pandemic related topics: preventing cities, towns, and counties from issuing harsh restrictions for businesses, barring universities from requiring coronavirus vaccines or masks, and prohibiting vaccine passports.
“Throughout the pandemic, we took action to protect Arizonans and their individual freedoms, like banning vaccine passports and protecting access to state universities,” Ducey said of the reason behind the original orders.
Ducey was able to revoke the directives largely due to recent laws passed by the state legislature.
“Working with our Legislature, we’ve enacted these reforms into law. I want to thank Speaker Bowers, President Fann and all our legislators for their partnership in putting good policy into place on a permanent basis,” Ducey added to express his gratitude to the state lawmakers.
Additionally, state legislators expressed their pleasure that Ducey removed the orders.
“Thankfully, I had a willing partner in Gov. @dougducey to ban government compelled Vax Passports in AZ. In addition, we handled many other #COVID19 Executive Orders the right way with partnership between the Legislative and Executive Branches of state government!” State Senator TJ Shope (R-Coolidge) said.
Thankfully, I had a willing partner in Gov. @dougducey to ban government compelled Vax Passports in AZ. In addition, we handled many other #COVID19 Executive Orders the right way with partnership between the Legislative and Executive Branches of state government! https://t.co/K4RHaPANqx
— T.J. Shope (@TJShopeforAZ) July 2, 2021
Some of the new laws that allowed Ducey to revoke the executive orders were included in the recently-passed state budget.
The budget included an historic tax break that will cut taxes across the board and save the average taxpayer $350 a year. Further, the budget allows for an expansion of school choice and submits payments for the state’s debt — other key priorities of the Republican lawmakers.
While most orders are revoked, the state’s emergency declaration that Ducey issued in March 2020 remains in place.
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Cooper Moran is a reporter for the Star News Network. Follow Cooper on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Doug Ducey” by Gage Skidmore. CC BY-SA 2.0. Background Photo “Arizona Capitol” by Gage Skidmore. CC BY-SA 2.0.
