A gaggle of Republican lawmakers led by Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) is asking on GOP management to withhold their help for a invoice wanted to avert a authorities shutdown subsequent month if COVID-19 vaccine mandates stay in place.
“After Feb. 18, 2022, authorities funding will expire and congressional Republicans should as soon as once more resolve whether or not they’ll vote to fund a federal authorities that’s imposing tyrannical COVID-19 vaccine mandates on the American folks,” the lawmakers wrote to Senate Minority Chief Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Home Minority Chief Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.).
The Supreme Court docket just lately struck down a vaccine-or-test rule for corporations with at the least 100 staff. Nevertheless, mandates are nonetheless in impact for the military, federal employees, federal contractors and most medical employees.
The members argued that by funding the federal government, lawmakers are agreeing to fund the implementation of the mandates regardless of voicing particular person opposition.
“Congressional Republicans can’t proceed to abdicate their Article I duties in hopes the judicial department will rule in favor of the American folks,” they wrote. “Subsequently, we the undersigned refuse to think about supporting any federal authorities funding automobile, be it a seamless decision or an omnibus appropriations measure, that funds the enforcement of COVID-19 vaccine mandates at any stage of presidency.”
Roy advised The Submit the letter-writers wish to get at the least 10 GOP senators on board with the hassle to tank authorities funding laws, which requires 60 votes for passage within the higher chamber.
“Most Republicans say that vax mandates are tyrannical and silly, however will they unite earlier than authorities funding expires on Feb. 18 to pledge to not fund enforcement of those mandates?” he mentioned in a press release. “Will at the least 10 of the 19 GOP Senators who voted to punt final time now arise for healthcare employees or not? We’re going to search out out.”
Solely two Republican senators signed on to Roy’s letter: Rand Paul of Kentucky and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin. Greater than two dozen GOP representatives joined the letter, together with Home Freedom Caucus Chairman Scott Perry (R-Pa.), Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), Louie Gohmert (R-Texas), Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Brian Mast (R-Fla.).
