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Arizona sues Biden to keep school anti-mask rules

Doug. Ducey
Posted at 10:18 AM, Jan 22, 2022
and last updated 2022-01-22 12:18:45-05

PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey is suing the Biden administration over its demand that the state stop sending millions in federal COVID-19 relief money to schools if they don't have mask requirements or close due to COVID-19 outbreaks.

The lawsuit filed in Phoenix federal court on Friday comes a week after the U.S. Treasury Department demanded that Ducey either restructure the $163 million program to eliminate restrictions it says undermine public health recommendations or pay back the money.

The Treasury also wants changes to a $10 million program Ducey created that gives private school tuition money to parents if their children's schools have mask mandates.

A Treasury Department spokesperson says they believe their rules are legal.