Idaho Republican officials are warning President Joe Biden of legal action if his proposed coronavirus vaccine requirement for about 100 million Americans goes into effect.
Gov. Brad Little, Attorney General Lawrence Wasden, House Speaker Scott Bedke and Senate Pro Tempore Chuck Winder in a letter Friday say there appears to be no legal basis for the requirement.
Many Idaho Republican lawmakers are angry with the recent vaccine mandate announcement. It requires employers with more than 100 workers to require the workers to be vaccinated or be tested for the virus weekly.
The Idaho letter comes a day after the full state entered crisis standards of care because of mostly unvaccinated COVID-19 patients filling hospitals. The standards allow health care providers to give scarce resources, like ventilators, to the patients most likely to survive.
The letter Friday cites three main reasons for opposing the vaccine mandate. It says the power to enforce vaccine policies belongs to states, not the federal government.
It also says the U.S. Department of Labor doesn’t have the authority to issue the mandate.
Finally, the letter says state leaders are in the best position to determine appropriate responses.
On Thursday, attorneys general from 24 states sent a letter to Biden threatening legal action over the vaccine mandate. (AP)
