Supporters of employer-imposed vaccine mandates are saying the legislature does not have time to consider legislation to protect workers from being fired. That is misinformation. If the legislature wants to protect workers, then they can make time.
The legislature’s concurrent resolution for the extended session has no deadline. The proclamation for reconvening by Senate Pro Tempore Jimmy Hickey and Speaker of the House Matthew Shepherd says the legislature is to adjourn “as soon as practicable after completing its work on redistricting.”
On Wednesday the Senate delayed consideration of anti-vaccine mandate legislation. This tactic is intended to give redistricting a head start, pass redistricting, and then adjourn without passing legislation to protect the medical freedom of workers.
The Senate Pro Tempore has been adamant he doesn’t want to consider anything other than redistricting. But adjournment is not up to the two leaders of the Senate and House. Adjournment is up to the full Senate or House of Representatives.
How can the legislature make time if they want to help workers?
- The legislature could simply vote “no” on adjournment after completing business on redistricting saying it is not yet “practicable” to adjourn.
- The legislature could adopt a resolution setting an adjournment date which will provide plenty of time to fully consider the COVID-19 issue.
- The legislature could simply postpone or table final disposition of the redistricting legislation to provide time for anti-mandate legislation to be debated and passed.
One thing is for certain, those who say the issue should wait until the special session to be called by the Governor in a few days are not being honest with you. They know a delay until the special session means absolutely no help will be given to workers facing termination. The Governor certainly isn’t going to include the issue in his call. And, because it takes a 2/3rd vote of both the Senate and House of Representatives before the legislature can consider its own issues at the end of a special session, the legislation has no chance of being introduced in the special session.
For workers who are facing a vaccine mandate deadline if the legislature doesn’t act in this extended session, no help will be coming from the legislature.
