Pro-vaccine govs slam Joe’s mandate

Two Republican governors who oppose President Biden’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate believe the requirement will only harden the resolve of those unwilling to get the jab.

“This is a very serious deadly virus, and we’re all together in trying to get an increased level of vaccination out in the population,” Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson said on NBC News’ “Meet the Press.” “The problem is that I’m trying to overcome resistance, but the president’s actions in a mandate hardens the resistance.”

He said vaccination requirements for schools have typically come from the state level, not the federal government.

“And so this is an unprecedented assumption of federal mandate authority that really disrupts and divides the country,” Hutchinson said. “It divides our partnership between the federal government and the states.”

Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts said the shot should be a personal choice and noted that his administration has been providing information about the vaccines and offering encouragement.

“But it should be a personal healthcare choice. This is not something that the government should mandate and somebody shouldn’t have to make the choice between keeping their job and getting a jab in the arm,” Ricketts said on “Fox News Sunday.”

“I mean, it’s just wrong. I’ve talked to people, a number of people who have told me, ‘If they made me take the vaccine, I’m just going to be fired. I’m not going to — I’m not going to do it.’ ”

Biden last Thursday announced the Labor Department will compel businesses with 100 or more workers to require all employees be vaccinated or else get tested weekly for the coronavirus.