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, U.S. News & World Report said.
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.
CNN reported Jan. 7 that the Supreme Court’s conservative majority appeared ready to reject one of President Biden’s most aggressive attempts for far to combat the spread of COVID-19. 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, reported the U.S. News & World Report.
In lieu of a ruling from the justices, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 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.
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.
