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Two Democrats crossed the aisle to rebuke the Biden administration’s vaccine mandates on businesses with over 100 employees.
Senators Joe Manchin (W.Va.) and Jon Tester (Mont.) joined all Republicans in a vote of 52-48 to pass a Senate resolution repealing vaccine mandates on private businesses on Wednesday.
Sen. Manchin had previously said he was against vaccine mandates on private businesses.
And Sen. Tester said, while he is in favor of the mRNA vaccine, a mandate on private businesses would hurt the economy.
Last night’s vote was the first congressional rebuke of Pres. Joe Biden’s vaccine mandates. He has also lost several key federal court decisions. The House needs 218 signatures to force a floor vote, and Biden has promised to veto any Congressional effort to repeal his vaccine mandates.
Sen. Mike Braun, (R-Ind), who introduced the resolution, said Biden had no authority to impose the requirements on private businesses.
“This bipartisan vote is a crystal clear message to the @WhiteHouse: Back off, and stop this crazy federal overreach immediately,” he tweeted.
Tonight, the Senate voted to overturn President Biden’s vaccine mandate for private businesses.
This bipartisan vote is a crystal clear message to the @WhiteHouse: Back off, and stop this crazy federal overreach immediately.
— Senator Mike Braun (@SenatorBraun) December 9, 2021
