Kansas lawmakers look to restrict federal vaccine mandate
Kansas Chamber of Commerce is against the bill, saying it could lead to "unintended consequences" for businesses
Kansas Chamber of Commerce is against the bill, saying it could lead to "unintended consequences" for businesses
Kansas Chamber of Commerce is against the bill, saying it could lead to "unintended consequences" for businesses
There's a push to restrict the federal vaccine mandate in Kansas. The Kansas House and Senate have different versions of their restrictions on the federal mask mandate.
They have spent this special session trying to cut a deal.
Republicans believe the federal vaccine mandate is an illegal overreach of Washington, dictating businesses with 100 workers or more have to get all of their workers vaccinated.
"What's next? They going to start loading the unvaccinated into cattle cars, and keeping us segregated?" Kansas state Rep. Michael Hoover said.
State Rep. John Eplee is an Atchison doctor who gave many vaccinations shots.
"I personally (have) not seen any serious side effects from the vaccines I have administered," Eplee said.
The two main components of the Kansas restriction are broad — no-questions-asked religious exemption from taking the vaccination, and letting people who get fired for refusing the shot to collect unemployment insurance.
House leaders are concerned about loading up the bill with too many items.
"My concern is that if we do go too far, it's going to get thrown out in court. And that's the last thing we want to see happen," state Rep. Stephen Owens said.
Democrats believe the courts will settle the vaccine mandate, not any state legislators.
"We can feed the people a bill of goods. We can tell them that we did something," state Rep. John Carmichael said.
The Kansas Chamber of Commerce is against the bill, saying it could lead to "unintended consequences" for businesses.
The Kansas Senate and Kansas House will agree to some version of state restrictions to the federal employee vaccine mandate. It is possible the special session could stretch into Tuesday.