North Michigan News

Michigan Speaker of the House Lee Chatfield (R-Levering) recently spoke out about the new requirement for student athletes to wear masks during fall sports practices and competitions in Michigan.

Chatfield was a guest on WJR's "The Frank Beckmann Show" recently, where he discussed two conflicting executive orders.

The first executive order requires masks to be worn in school sports, but there is another executive order saying those exercising outside in Michigan don't have to wear a mask.

Rep. Lee Chatfield | Michigan House Republicans

"That is outrageous. The World Health Organization highly recommends against wearing a mask while you're exercising and competing," Chatfield told Beckmann.

Wearing a mask makes it difficult for athletes to breathe while exercising, and it has created a lot of frustration among the athletes, parents and coaches, according to Chatfield.

"I cannot even imagine having been on a basketball court or football field, even on a baseball field running the bases, with a mask on. It's going to impair your opportunity to breathe!" Beckmann said on his show.

Chatfield piggybacked off Beckmann's comments, saying that when he heard that masks would be required to compete, he almost didn't believe it.

Chatfield has been in touch with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in biweekly conversations to receive updates, despite the current lawsuit the Republican lawmakers have filed against Whitmer.

"I think the Democratic process is still being trampled on. That's why, ultimately, we are suing the governor right now. That's why we are in the Michigan Supreme Court. Our system of government is being walked over right now; it's not right. People have fought for this process, people have died for this process, and our Constitution still needs to stand, even during a time of crisis," Chatfield told Beckmann.

Chatfield was previously a private school teacher and is currently serving as Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives. He is in his third term as state representative from the 107th House District. Chatfield is 32 years old and is the youngest state House speaker in the U.S.