Republican governors from Arizona, Montana, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas have vowed to fight President Joe Biden’s recently announced vaccine mandate plan, USA Today reported Friday.
Biden’s plan would require businesses with more than 100 employees to make sure their employees are either fully vaccinated or tested weekly for COVID-19. Violations of the mandate will be met with Occupational Safety and Health Administration penalties up to $14,000 per incident, an administration official said, according to USA Today.
Overall, the plan is expected to impact 100 million workers in the nation, said the outlet. It is one part of a six-step plan to bring the U.S. out of the grip of the pandemic. Another part of the plan includes face mask requirements in certain situations.
In addition to resistance from GOP governors from the five states (Gov. Doug Ducey, Ariz.; Gov. Greg Gianforte, Mont.; Gov. Henry McMaster, S.C.; Gov. Gov. Bill Lee, Tenn. And Gov. Greg Abbott, Tex.) the Republican National Committee said it would file a lawsuit against the Biden administration.
Other conservative lawmakers took to social media this week to oppose the president’s plan.
“Joe Biden is creating a constitutional crisis,” said Josh Mandel, an Ohio Republican running the U.S. Senate, in a video posted on Twitter. “When the gestapo show up at your front door, you know what to do,” he continued.
Biden said Friday he was “disappointed” in the governors who said they plan to challenge his new requirements, according to USA Today. He also said the governors were “so cavalier” about the health of children and their communities.
As of Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had reported 654,409 deaths from COVID-19 and a current case rate of 288.3 per 100,000. According to the CDC, COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective for people aged 12 and older the agency recommends that people who are not vaccinated wear facial masks indoors.
“Many of us are frustrated with the nearly 80 million Americans who are still not vaccinated,” Biden said Thursday when announcing the new strategy. “This is not about freedom from personal choice, it's about protecting yourself and those around you.”
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