Some of Oklahoma's top officials are condemning President Joe Biden's recent decision to require vaccines in most workplaces.
On Thursday, the White House announced upcoming regulations from the Department of Labor requiring businesses with more than 100 employees to make sure all of their workers are vaccinated, or tested weekly.
In a statement, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt said there would be no government vaccine mandates in the state.
“It is not the government’s role to dictate to private businesses what to do. Once again President Biden is demonstrating his complete disregard for individual freedoms and states’ rights. As long as I am governor, there will be no government vaccine mandates in Oklahoma. My administration will continue to defend Oklahoma values and fight back against the Biden administration’s federal overreach.”Gov. Kevin Stitt
Sen. James Lankford also released a statement Thursday in response to Biden's vaccine mandate for federal employees.
“My family and I chose to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, and I am grateful for it. Every Oklahoman and American should have that same choice and option. Federal employees and contractors, members of our military, health care workers, and everyone else in our nation should be able to choose whether to get vaccinated. Period. The Biden proposal ignores the natural immunity millions of Americans have because they have recovered from COVID and the millions of other Americans that do not want to be forced to take a vaccine for a multitude of personal, religious, and medical reasons.”Sen. James Lankford
Attorney General John O'Connor says he's preparing litigation to challenge President Biden's new COVID-19 vaccine mandates.
"We respect the right of Oklahoma businesses and individuals to make healthcare decisions for themselves and their families. My office will vigorously oppose any attempt by the federal government to mandate vaccines. We are preparing litigation to stand up for our rights and defend the rule of law against the overreach of the federal government."Oklahoma Attorney General John O'Connor
Oklahoma House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, issued the following statement opposing overreaching federal mandates announced by President Joe Biden.
“The Oklahoma Legislature acted aggressively this session to stop unconstitutional federal overreach like President Biden proposed today. We saw this coming and are already prepared to block it in Oklahoma. This type of unilateral overreach is precisely why House Bill 1236 and the additional litigation funds for the attorney general were such big priorities this session. I applaud the attorney general for utilizing the tools the Legislature provided to defend Oklahoma’s rights as a state. President Biden is about to see the U.S. Constitution still matters in Oklahoma. This isn't the only unconstitutional Biden administration action Oklahoma needs to challenge. Our country is a republic of states, not a monarchy, and the president does not have the constitutional authority to issue these type of edicts.”Oklahoma House Speaker Charles McCall
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