AUSTIN, Texas — In a wide-ranging interview Thursday, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick said he supports Gov. Greg Abbott's lifting of the coronavirus restrictions but encouraged Texans to continue wearing masks.
"I still, when I'm around people who are wearing masks, I will wear them out of respect to them," he said on Capital Tonight. "And we're still saying at the Capitol, we strongly suggest you wear a mask, social distance. We're just ending the mandate."
Patrick says 15 other states don't have a statewide mask mandate. He also says it's best to leave the decision on whether to require masks to schools and businesses which can still mandate them.
On the deadly winter storm, Patrick said he's working on comprehensive legislation to reform the system that left millions in the dark for days.
"No bill gets to the floor without me approving it. I'm not going to approve a bill that gets to the floor without addressing all of these issues across the board," he said.
Patrick also balked at the idea of the state joining the national grid.
"There's nothing wrong with our grid. The grid didn't fail. Those putting electric power into the grid failed," he said. "The concept of the grid is still a good concept. We don't want the feds running our grid."
Click the video link above to watch the full interview.