Many have questioned the effect that President Joe Biden's new COVID-19 rules will have on business with some arguing mandates set to reach 100 million Americans will hurt businesses, while others say the dangers of COVID-19 spread have a more detrimental effect than any mandate.
The newest federal mandate will require staff at companies with over 100 employees to be vaccinated or tested weekly for COVID. Political insider Armstrong Williams said that he thinks this will play a role in stalling the economy, ABC4 reported.
"It's just another way to give people more excuses, to give them fear, to not show up for work," Williams said. "You don't need to give people more excuses not to show up to work, which further paralyzes this economy."
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Williams believes that mandates will only create "another unnecessary headache for large businesses."
With companies desperate for employees, including industries hit hardest by the pandemic like the hospitality industry, he says the struggle to get workers will only be more challenging.
"What is happening now with these new mandates, it gives people another excuse to stay home, and they won't be able to find new employees to come to help them with the shortage they have in their workforce," Williams said.
CBS's Chief Washington Correspondent Major Elliot Garrett joined New Talk 830 WCCO's Chad Hartman last Friday to discuss the mandate and what he thinks will happen with the President's plan.
Garrett shared some insight into the President's thinking when it comes to claims that the mandate is illegal.
"They believe they are on solid legal footing," Garrett said.
Because of the rise in cases due to the Delta Variant, medical experts have continued to plead with the unvaccinated to get their shots. However, now, the pleading seems to be over as the mandates have been put in place.
"The law says you can mandate them [vaccine]," he added.
On the other hand, Williams thinks that the President's mandate will end up in a legal battle.
"This will end up in the courts; there will be lawsuits," Williams said. "This is another gimmick for them to buy time to appease their progressive base and knowing that this is not going to stand muster in the courts."
The mandate does not affect those with a religious exemption, however, there has been discussion around what qualifies as a religious exemption.
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Garrett went on to say that Dr. Fauci and several other medical experts have said they do not want to use mandates, instead attempting to have a conversation around the vaccine, but now it's too late.
"No one in the Republican party who's against this can say 'well they're hell-bent on mandates,'" Garrett said. "They're not!"
Other medical experts have poured out favor in mandates, putting public health over anything else.
Just last month, Dr. Michael Osterholm shared that he supports vaccine mandates. He even went as far as to say that those who are unvaccinated should not be allowed in school this year.
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On Monday morning, he joined News Talk 830 WCCO's Adam Carter to talk about the COVID-19 vaccine and the mandate. He shared that a vaccine requirement is not something new to the U.S.
"This is not new. We've been requiring vaccines for our schools," Osterholm said. "This is for the safety of the community. This is not trying to take the freedom away from some individual."
The coming weeks will show whether or not the mandate has an effect on the business and the economy. Those who work for a qualifying business have 75 days to get vaccinated; if they don't, their company can be fined nearly $14,000 per violation.
