Senate File 193 has found itself back in the headlines after being called the “gold standard” of legislation in the country against vaccine mandates.
The Iowa Standard went back and reviewed testimony from different parties at the subcommittee held on the bill. Here is what J.D. Davis, who represented the Iowa Association of Business and Industry, said.
Davis confined his remarks to Division I of the bill. Division I simply prohibits an employer from failing or refusing to hire, discharge, penalize or otherwise discriminate against an employee with respect to compensation or the terms, conditions or privileges of employment based on the employee’s vaccination history and/or refusal of the employee to receive a vaccine or provide proof of immunity.
Davis said that ABI recognizes the free will right of any kind in Iowa to determine whether or not someone wishes to be vaccinated for any disease.
“Respect that,” Davis said. “We also respect the free will right of employers to arrange their business place in any way they see fit for the conduct of business and we don’t think that the choice that’s been made in the bill to have the right of the employee or prospective employee trump those of an employer respects that free-will decision of both parties.
“Decisions have consequences and if someone decides that they wish not to have a vaccination, there are some consequences they’re going to have to weigh when they make that decision.”
Here are the Iowa Industry Political Action Committee (IIPAC) most recent expenditure reports:
