Laura Kelly, the Democrat Governor of Kansas, publicly declared her opposition to President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
Biden’s administration announced late last week all companies with 100 or more employees must ensure those employees are vaccinated by Jan. 4. Employees who are not vaccinated must wear a mask and undergo weekly testing.
If companies do not abide by the order, they could be fined.
Kelley said she is appreciative of the intent behind keeping people safe, but doesn’t believe the mandate is the solution for her state.
“Yesterday, I reviewed the new vaccine mandate from the Biden Administration,” she said. “While I appreciate the intention to keep people safe, a goal I share, I don’t believe this directive is the correct, or the most effective, solution for Kansas.
“States have been leading the fight against COVID-19 from the start of the pandemic. It is too late to impose a federal standard now that we have already developed systems and strategies that are tailored for our specific needs. I will seek a resolution that continues to recognize the uniqueness of our state and builds on our on-going efforts to combat a once-in-a-century crisis.”
