Joe Manchin Expected to Rebuke Biden’s Vaccine Mandate as Senate Likely to Pass GOP-Led Resolution

A GOP-led resolution is likely to pass in the Senate today after Sen Joe Manchin (D-WV) signaled his support for the resolution, rebuking an executive order passed by President Joe Biden.

The resolution is to reject the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OHSA) rule requiring businesses with more than 100 employees to mandate that their workers be vaccinated.

All 50 Republican senators are reportedly in favor of the resolution and only needs a simple majority to pass.

Sen Mike Braun (R-IN) is leading the challenge to the vaccine mandate, which began last month using the Congressional Review Act (CRA).

As Braun wrote in a press release at the time that the CRA is a privileged resolution which is guaranteed a vote on the House and Senate floors.

Braun also noted that President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans used the CRA in 2017 many times to nullify former President Barack Obama’s climate change programs and “other leftist policies.”

Once Senate Republicans were to file their formal resolution to disapprove of the Biden vaccine mandate, it would set up a 20-day clock in the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, Braun explained.

The resolution then comes up for a vote, in which Democrats cannot filibuster the bill.

U.S. House Rep Fred Keller (R-PA) is leading companion legislation in the House of Representatives and as of Friday, his office said has a remarkable 206 cosponsors. 

Prospects in the House aren’t looking particularly promising though, as there is no word on any Democrats backing the legislation.

Biden can veto the proposal, however, if it does get passed through both chambers by the simple majority.

The veto override resolution is also privileged, however, meaning it would be guaranteed for a floor vote and then the veto override would require a two-thirds majority in both chambers of Congress.

Currently, there is an injunction against the mandate that was made by a federal judge, so the best opportunity that Republicans have to get it rescinded is through the courts.

Federal Appeals Court Deals Another Blow to Biden Admin’s Private Business Vaccine Mandate By Reaffirming Temporary Halt