Republican lawmakers in Tennessee have submitted a bill that gives unemployment benefits to those who quit their jobs over vaccine mandates.
Rep. Rusty Grills (R-Newbern) is sponsoring the bill. Lawmakers are considering it this week during a special session called about giving Ford funding, buildout and oversight of a site near Memphis.
Speaker Cameron Sexton signaled his support for giving unemployment checks to workers who quit their jobs for not getting vaccinated.
But Democratic state lawmakers raised concerns about the bill.
“This is really absurd that someone could receive unemployment money for a personal decision,” Rep. Vincent Dixie (D-Nashville) said.
Dixie says this would amount to a tax on small businesses, who regularly contribute to the state's unemployment fund.
You’re going to tax small businesses even more than what they already are so you’re going to see more people go under. You already talk about wages are low and we can’t find workers and basically, essentially, going to add another tax,” Dixie said.
Speaker Sexton disagreed, saying the bill is largely in anticipation of new federal vaccine mandates.
We may move into trying to nullify President (Joe) Biden’s stuff that he’s trying to go through OSHA and do a nullification type of bill and push back on the federal government,” Sexton said.
Many House Republicans have long opposed mandates of any kind in Tennessee, and they have the support of Governor Bill Lee. Lawmakers will discuss these issues at a special session later this month.
Right now, voluntarily quitting a job typically disqualifies someone from receiving unemployment. Many of the vaccine requirements, including from President Biden, include a COVID testing option.
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