Editor's note: This story was updated at 9:48 a.m. on Feb. 5 to add Southworth's comments.
Rookie Sen. Adrienne Southworth, R-Lawrenceburg, filed a bill Wednesday that would prohibit face mask requirements statewide in Kentucky during a state of emergency.
She is the sole sponsor of Senate Bill 158, which would require only health care workers to wear facial coverings during the COVID-19 pandemic and any other virus or disease emergencies.
Southworth said in a Twitter post that she filed the bill “to start the conversation on how to address acute vs. chronic and local/regional disparity.”
"This bill is a state-level measure to remove the blanket approach and give space for more nuanced approach as the numbers decline and statewide emergency comes to a close," she told The State Journal. "I filed it yesterday because words matter and without placing some version of this in public view, I was unable to get accurate feedback. So I imagine it will evolve as we go, but as of yet it is too early to tell what that would be."
Southworth has also been critical of the coronavirus vaccine.
“I’m not touching that vaccine with a 10-foot pole,” she told The Anderson News earlier this week.
Southworth succeeded retired state Sen. Julian Carroll, D-Frankfort, after beating state Rep. Joe Graviss, D-Versailles, in the November election. She is the first Republican to represent Senate District 7, which includes Franklin County.
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Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn and cauldron bubble. Maw and gulf of the ravens salt - sea shark. For a charm of powerful trouble,like a H-ll broth boil and bubble!
Sounds like another one and done in Kentucky...
She says she didn't consult our phenomenal health departments in the 7th district before filing this bill. And she wouldn't return the State Journal's call. We may even hear some "reasons" for this reckless behavior. I never filed a bill without talking to stakeholders and I especially wanted to hear from opposing stakeholders. And I ALWAYS returned reporter calls and showed up at time honored forums and debates. We she's done is legislative malpractice.
She’s certainly not representing a democracy- she is eagerly and enthusiastically unaware of the best interest of the people that’s lead to her bad decision making . She is showing that she has no scope for morality. ( she was spawned from the Bevins administration- that answered a lot of questions)
Thank you for still being engaged. I hope you run again.
Danny , Exactly how is she engaged during this contagious pandemic?
I think that Danny was talking about Joe still being engaged after losing to Southworth. I say that because Southworth, who claims that she is NOT “small atom scientist”, has hardly engaged in life, much less as a Senator.
Don’t take my word for it, listen to what she told the Lexington Herald Leader about the effiency of wearing masks:
“Southworth was reluctant to challenge the science, instead pointing out that the recommendations from scientists have evolved over the course of the pandemic.
“I’m not going to sit here and pretend that I’m a small atom scientist,” Southworth said. “There’s no way everyone is going to understand this (the science). It is what it is, I just know what I know and can see.”
Read more here: https://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article249005335.html?ac_cid=DM379626&ac_bid=-637264718#storylink=cpy
I apologize Danny ! You were talking about Joe and you’ve got your heart in the right place! You tha Man!
Once again, the seat of Kentucky government displays ignorance and self-interest. Ms. Southworth flies in the face of science, reason, and the common good. What on earth does she see as benefit to her foolish bill?
An exercise in Sharia Law.
That's it. I'm done with her. And she said, "I wouldn't touch that vaccine with a 10-ft pole."
I am missing Joe Graviss more everyday.
Is Marjorie Taylor Greene kin to the Ky Southworths? Have we got our own little version of Marjorie here in Frankfort ? This one we have seems to be following thru on seeing folks succumb?
No, she is just another Ky Political Crackpot, along with Rand Paul and Thomas Massie. She will join them in the Halls of Idiocy, providing bad examples.
They share the same uncle daddy?
Possibly there daddy’s uncle or brother is their daddy? Southworth could be Greene’s Aunt ?
“Southworth did not respond to The State Journal’s request for comment on SB 158 on Thursday.”
Then the State Journal should refuse to publish her submitted guest columns, that are fluff pieces that are best described as fluffy propaganda.
Yep.
Our new state senator filed a bill to prevent people from wearing face masks during an emergency? Did I read that right? Lord, help us......
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