Threaten Government Shutdown A group of GOP senators are demanding a vote on defunding President Joe Biden’s vaccine orders covering healthcare workers, federal employees and contractors, and the military.
The senators, led by Sen. Mike Lee of Utah, are refusing to approve the next continuing resolution (CR) to keep the federal government fully funded until a vote is held on an amendment that would defund Biden’s vaccine orders. The current CR is set to expire on February 18.
“As you are likely aware, the OSHA mandate was rescinded shortly after the Supreme Court blocked its enforcement. This is no small victory. Millions of Americans are now free from this unwarranted federal invasion into healthcare decisions, but for how long?” the senators asked in a Monday letter to other senators, first reported by Fox News. “In addition to the lingering, harmful uncertainty faced by those subject to the four remaining COVID-19 mandates – specifically, those imposing vaccine requirements on medical workers, military personnel, federal employees, and federal contractors – the American people as a whole still face uncertainty as to whether President Biden has abandoned his desire to impose similar requirements on them.”
“We will continue to stand against these mandates until they are discontinued in ambition, design, and practice. For that reason, we are writing to let you know that we will not consent to a time agreement that eases passage of the Continuing Resolution (“CR”) now before the Senate absent an agreement to allow for a roll call vote on an amendment that defunds the enforcement of these vaccine mandates for the spending period covered by the CR,” the letter said.
Lee was joined by Sens. Roger Marshall of Kansas, Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, Mike Braun of Indiana, Rand Paul of Kentucky, and Ted Cruz of Texas in signing the letter.
“These COVID-19 vaccine mandates amount to a serious abuse of both federal power and executive authority. They also further strain the economic and social pressures our society currently faces, while completely ignoring existing evidence-based data on natural immunity from previous COVID-19 infection. Further, evidence-based research has conclusively shown that vaccination does not stop the spread of COVID-19. In any event, President Biden has no business forcing people to make a tragic choice between unemployment and an unwanted vaccination,” the letter said.
“Frederick Douglass correctly observed that “the limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress.” As Members of Congress, we must not abdicate our Article I duties in hopes that the judicial branch will rule in favor of the American people, or that if left unaddressed by legislative action the problem before us will somehow dissipate,” the letter continued. “History will bear record of whether we chose to endure tyranny, or oppose it, in this pivotal moment. We invite you to stand with us and oppose the CR until it explicitly defunds the implementation and enforcement of these mandates. At a minimum, we need to take a vote on this before funding their enforcement. The livelihoods and personal freedoms of millions of Americans are at stake.”