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Georgia Governor, Attorney General on Opposition to Federal Vaccine Mandate

AP Photo/John Amis, File

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp remained steadfast in his opposition to the Biden Administration’s COVID-19 mandate on federal contractors. Last week Kemp, along with Attorney General Chris Carr, Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black, and the University System of Georgia, joined other states in a lawsuit challenging that mandate.

“After telling Americans in July of 2021 that it was not the role of the federal government to mandate COVID-19 vaccine, the Biden Administration is now forcing hardworking Georgians to choose between their livelihoods and a vaccine,” according to Kemp.

Kemp called the mandate a recipe for disaster.

“Just a few of the consequences of this mandate include: pivotal university research projects being put on hold or abandoned, locally owned construction companies that help serve our military installations around the state being forced to stop work mid-project.”

The Governor also said the mandate would hurt, not help, the economy.

“For businesses who do work with the federal government, this executive action makes it more likely you could lose employees to other competitors. Even if you can keep the workers you have, congratulations Joe Biden has now made you into the vaccine police.”

Attorney General Carr sad the President does not have the authority to impose the measure.

"The President does not have the authority to infringe upon state and individual rights, any requirement that employees within our state be vaccinated is a power delegated to us by the U.S. Constitution,” according to Carr. “He might have to authority to do it on a limited basis, but he certainly cannot use the federal contracting power to run the state university system of Georgia. That’s what we’re going to talking about in court.”