Senate Repeals Biden’s Vaccine Mandate for Businesses

The US Senate dealt President Joe Biden’s vaccine mandate for businesses a killer blow. Voting 52-48, the Senate repealed one of Biden’s centerpiece orders to increase vaccination rates.

RELATED: DeSantis calls Special Session to Ban Private Sector Employee Vaccine Mandates

2 Democrats Join Republicans in Overturning Vaccine Mandate For Businesses

Meanwhile, two Democrat senators joined the solid Republican vote in overturning Biden’s vaccine mandate for businesses.

Moderate Democrat Senators Joe Manchin (WV) and Jon Tester (MO) voted along Republican lines to achieve the 52-48 tally. 

Earlier, Republicans brought the vaccine mandate for businesses to the Senate floor for review. Under the Congressional Review Act, members of the US Congress have the privilege of reviewing executive orders.

Senator Mike Braun (R-IN) sponsored the resolution. He said that the vaccine mandate for business is an example of the heavy hand of the government.  

Main Street Scared By Vaccine Mandate For Businesses

Braun said that Biden’s vaccine mandate for businesses is scaring Main Street. “They’re worried about, well, what does this mean on other issues?

Anybody who thinks this is a good idea, imagine the next time it happens when you’re on the wrong side on whatever the merits of the case would be,” Braun said ahead of the vote. 

In particular, the mandate requires compliance from private companies with 100 or more workers. Employers need to make sure employers complete COVID vaccinations or undergo regular testing for COVID-19. Steep fines await employers who will not comply. 

Federal Overreach

Republicans argued that the vaccine mandate for businesses constitutes federal overreach. In addition, the difficult economic conditions make it burdensome to comply with the order as well as pay fines. 

Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WA) also commented ahead of the vote. “It's daunting to families as they're facing higher bills for their gas and their heating.

They are very concerned about what this would do to their long-term ability to get a job, keep a job. I think they realize that this is an invasion into their own abilities to make decisions about themselves in their health care.”

States Launch Legal Challenges

In addition, Biden’s vaccine mandate for businesses also received backlash from several states and groups. Several attorneys general filed legal challenges while businesses and religious groups also complained.

Last month, a federal appeals court enacted a temporary hold on the mandate. The hold will stay pending the outcome of litigation.

Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), slammed those opposing vaccine mandates and rejected the effectiveness of vaccines in particular. He compared the opposition to the Middle Ages.

“Some of the anti-vaxxers here in this chamber remind me of what happened 400 years ago,” he said. “People were clinging to the fact that the sun revolved around the Earth.

They just didn’t believe in science. Or 500 years ago when they were sure the Earth was flat,” Schumer added. 

Senate Vote Wouldn’t Matter As Biden Will Probably Veto

However, the Senate’s efforts will likely go to waste. In fact, a House vote will likely reject the Senate’s repeal. But even if the House approves a similar resolution on the vaccine mandate for businesses, the bill won’t get signed into law. Biden will likely veto the bill once it reaches his desk. 

Watch the NBC News video reporting that the US Senate passes resolution to repeal President Joe Biden's private sector vaccine mandate:

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