States Uncertain As Biden Vaccine-Or-Test Mandate Takes Effect

The first stage of the Biden administration’s vaccine-or-test mandate for employees at large companies began Monday. But without word yet from the Supreme Court on pending challenges to the rule, some state leaders were left to take matters into their own hands.

The Supreme Court on Friday heard nearly four hours of arguments over two of the Biden administration’s vaccine requirements – cases that will have implications for some tens of millions of workers nationwide and for the president’s contentious strategy to combat the virus. The justices appeared skeptical of the requirements but seemed more open to a mandate for health care workers than the vaccine rule for private companies with more than 100 employees.

In lieu of a ruling from the justices, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration began implementing its rule for private companies Monday – although to a limited extent.

Still, some state leaders are acting ahead of a decision from the Supreme Court.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, a Republican, announced Friday that the state’s labor commission had submitted a notice that Iowa will not be adopting or enforcing the mandate.

“We are going to continue to protect the freedoms and liberties of Iowans,” Reynolds said in a statement. “The Biden Administration continues to ignore the constitutional rights afforded to all Americans, which our country was built on. Instead, they’d rather dictate health care decisions and eliminate personal choice, causing our businesses and employees to suffer and exacerbating our workforce shortage.”

Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson likewise said Sunday that large businesses should not comply with the Biden administration’s vaccine-or-test rule while they await a Supreme Court decision, insisting that the choice should be left up to businesses.

Read the full article from the U.S. News & World Report here.