A spokesperson for Gov. Pete Ricketts said the Republican would be willing to call a special session to address the federal vaccine mandate.But only if he has the votes to override a filibuster.The development comes as a vaccine deadline looms over 3M workers in Valley.Dave Redding, who works at the Valley plant, said he's standing up for what he believes is medical freedom and he said your employers shouldn't have control over it.He said some of his other colleagues have no choice but to give in and get the shot because of the mandate.Redding has worked at 3M for more than two decades. Now that the plant plans to enforce the federal vaccine mandate, he's ready to walk away."My mind is made up that I’m not going to be vaccinated against my will,” he said.Redding hosted a protest at the plant three weeks ago. A 3M spokesperson said because it is a federal contractor, it must follow the federal mandate. The spokesperson also said the company cannot offer testing as an alternative because of its contracts with the U.S. government.Redding said he's reached out to Nebraska lawmakers, hoping they'll pass a local ban on the federal mandate.“Most every elected official I’ve talked to says they support the vaccination but they don’t support forcing the vaccination,” Redding said.He said another 3M employee met with the governor about stepping in.“Gov. Ricketts said that if we're able to get 33 senators that were willing to support a ban on vaccine mandates that he would call for a special session,” Redding said.Gov. Ricketts's spokesperson, Taylor Gage, confirmed that Tuesday night.“Gov. Ricketts strongly opposes vaccine mandates. He has told fellow opponents that it would take 33 votes to overcome a likely filibuster in the legislature to pass legislation on this subject. If the legislature can show him they have the 33 votes, he would call the special session,” Gage said.Ricketts has previously said he will join other Republican governors and attorney's general in challenging the federal mandate in the court system.Attorney General Doug Peterson is among that group of attorneys general calling President Joe Biden's vaccine mandate "disastrous and counterproductive."In a letter to the president, the AG's representing 24 states say the vaccine requirements are over-broad. The group says it will pursue legal action if the mandate is enforced. With the federal deadline of Dec. 8 looming, Redding knows time is running out."It's going to take some effort to do for that to happen and to be honest, I think we're going to run out of time before that can happen,” Redding said.A spokesperson for 3M said in a statement: “3M teams have been working as quickly as possible to fully understand the details of the federal vaccine mandate and will communicate with employees as soon as possible."Redding hopes Nebraska will pass a ban similar to the one in Texas barring private entities from enforcing vaccine mandates.