24 Republican state attorneys promised legal action against the Biden administration unless the new vaccine mandate was changed. This was threatened in a letter addressed to President Biden.
The 24 attorneys urged President Biden to reconsider his decision requiring companies with over 100 employees to ensure frequent COVID-19 testing, and require vaccinations for employees. They referred to the plan as being both counterproductive and disastrous.
The letter read, “Mr. President, your vaccination mandate represents not only a threat to individual liberty but a public health disaster that will displace vulnerable workers and exacerbate a nationwide hospital staffing crisis, with severe consequences for all Americans”
The letter was posted as a result of President Biden’s widespread vaccine requirements, which were announced last week. These included an emergency rule by the Labor department requiring private sector companies with more than 100 employees to ensure their workers are vaccinated, or submit weekly COVID-19 testing. During the days following up to the announcement, many GOP leaders had pushed back against the plan.
The new requirements faced criticism from some state governors. The Governor of South Dakota Kristi Noem tweeted that her state will “stand up to defend freedom,” directing it at President Biden, The Texas Governor Greg Abbot called the new requirements an “assault on private businesses,” while the Governor of Nebraska Pete Ricketts called it a “stunning violation of personal freedom and abuse of the federal government’s power.” Ronna McDaniel, the Republican National Committee Chairwoman stated that her group would pursue legal action against Biden’s administration.
President Biden’s response to these reports of legal action in the last week was for the opposition leaders to try and do so. According to a poll conducted regarding the new mandate, with results having been released this week, three in five American citizens were supportive of the new requirements for large businesses and across the federal government. This support, however, was limited to Democrats and only 30% of Republicans agreed with the mandate.
