Eleven states filed lawsuits on October 29 to stop President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 vaccine authorization to federal contractors, arguing that the request violated federal law. Attorneys general from Alaska, Arkansas, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming signed the filing in the Missouri Federal District Court Litigation.
The states require federal judges to block Mr. Biden’s request that all employees of federal contractors be vaccinated against the coronavirus on the grounds that the request violates the federal procurement law and exceeds federal authority. The Republican and Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmidt said in a statement: “If the federal government tries to exercise its will unconstitutionally and force federal contractors to vaccinate, labor and businesses may be laid off.
Further exacerbate the supply chain and labor crisis.” “The federal government should not mandate vaccination. This is why we are suing today-to stop this illegal and unconstitutional action.” New Hampshire Republican Attorney General John Formera said in a statement that the COVID-19 vaccine is safe, effective and encouraging, but its benefits “cannot be a reason to violate the law.” This lawsuit, together with the lawsuits filed by Texas on October 29 and Florida on October 29 and October 28, respectively, brings the number of states that challenge Biden’s government authorization in three federal courts to 12.
Mr. Biden argued that full mandatory vaccination would help end the deadly pandemic, but Republicans across the country opposed the vaccination requirement and threatened to bring similar legal challenges. The State of Texas filed a similar lawsuit in the Federal District Court of the Federal Court of Galveston, Texas on October 29 to try to prevent enforcement. “The Biden administration has repeatedly expressed its contempt for Americans who choose not to be vaccinated, and it has repeatedly committed excessive federal measures that abuse power and impose what they don’t want on Americans,” the Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said. A statement. “The federal government has no ability to deny individuals the right to choose whether to vaccinate.
If the president thinks his patience is fading, he obviously underestimates the lack of patience of Texans and he violates their rights.” Another group of states led by Georgia announced on October 29 that they would file a similar federal lawsuit in the state to try to block the contractor’s request. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp said that other states joining the case include Alabama, Idaho, Kansas, West Virginia and Utah, as well as South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster.
The lawsuit was not filed when it was announced, and Georgia officials did not immediately provide a copy of the complaint.
News Source : The Hindu
