California GOP wear masks of maskless Gov Newsom and Magic Johnson during hearing to take away emergency powers

During the hearing, Republican representatives, including Kevin Kiley who ran for Governor during the Newsom Recall Election, wore masks with a photo of Gov. Newsom hanging out with Magic Johnson at the Rams/49ers game without masks on, despite Newsom's orders that masks be worn indoors.

"It's gotten now to the point of ridiculousness," Republican representative James Gallagher said during the hearing. "When the governor was asked about this a few months back, when the emergency would end, he said: 'You'll know it when we experience it.' Well, Mr. Governor, when we saw your smiling maskless face at the NFC championship game with Magic Johnson, we all experienced it!"

Kevin Kiley, who spearheaded the effort, slammed Democrat legislators voting against rescinding Governor Newsom's emergency powers.

"California Democrats just voted to continue the State of Emergency even as we host the Super Bowl," Kiley said on Twitter pointing out the hypocrisy.

On the floor, Kiley argued, "The Emergency Services Act law says the governor shall terminate the state of emergency — not when he wants to, not when he feels like it, not when he gets around to it, not when it’s politically convenient."

"But [the law states] he shall terminate the emergency at the earliest possible date that the conditions warrant," Kiley explained.

In a 15 to 48, the state legislature voted on Thursday for Governor Newsom to keep emergency powers.

In a press release, Kiley wrote, "Under the California Emergency Services Act, the Governor is required to terminate the State of Emergency at the earliest possible date. In the event that this requirement is not upheld, the Legislature has the power to terminate the emergency by concurrent resolution," according to Washington Examiner.

Erin Mellon, a spokesperson for Newsom, said the hearing to rescind Newsom's emergency powers was "political theater" despite repeated COVID hypocrisy from the Governor and other Democratic state legislators.

"Apparently, Assemblyman Kiley and Assemblyman Gallagher believe it would have been better to let Californians die and be turned away from care when hospitals reached capacity during the omicron surge," Mellon said.

Despite being the first state in the country to implement strict lockdowns and mandates when coronavirus began to spread across the US in 2020, California is one of the states with the highest number of COVID "cases."

During the Rams' victory over the 49ers, advancing them to the Superbowl, Magic Johnson posed maskless with Democratic California officials including Governor Gavin Newsom, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, and San Francisco Mayor London Breed. The photos that surfaced of the pro-mandate lawmakers sparked outrage across California as residents remain under strict mask and vaccination requirements.