Republicans [recently] escalated their battle against the Biden administration over federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates… calling for the president to backtrack from the requirements that they consider unconstitutional violations of American rights.
GOP officials in states including Florida, Alabama and Arizona took steps to push back on the looming requirement for businesses with more than 100 employees to require workers to be vaccinated or tested regularly.
Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), who is considered a potential 2024 presidential candidate, on [October 21] requested a special session of the state legislature focused on combating the mandates after previously floating plans to sue the administration.
“In Florida, your right to earn a living is not contingent upon whatever choices you’re making in terms of these injections,” DeSantis said during a [October 21] press conference.
The Alabama GOP also asked its state legislature on [October 22] to “take action” against the vaccine requirements, with Chairman John Wahl calling them discriminatory and a “clear violation of citizens’ constitutional right to privacy.”
“The Biden Administration is out of control, and needs to be challenged on these unconstitutional and un-American mandates,” he said in a statement.
