So, you’re saying there’s a chance?
A little more than one week ago, the idea that a vaccine mandate ban could become law in Alabama seemed rather far-fetched.
Some legislators talked about a potential special session that could include legislation to address vaccine mandates, but Speaker of the House Mac McCutcheon (R-Monrovia) said this was unlikely to come up in his chamber.
Big and small business interests spoke out against any attempt at all, and that seemed to be it.
Initially, Governor Kay Ivey was quiet as a Junebug on a winter’s mornin’, and across the state of Alabama, threats to employment were being held over people’s heads as they went to work.
Some were told to either get vaccinated or get terminated because that’s what President Joe Biden required, and others were told the company just wanted to do a vaccine mandate to protect the workers.
The message was the same: Whether government employee, contractor or civilian, you’ve got to get the jab or get out.
When Ivey finally issued her executive order, the impact was clear. The state of Alabama won’t force you to be vaccinated from COVID-19. She basically forbid herself from issuing a vaccine mandate (unless you are a university employee, you are still required).
But a lot has changed in a week. The momentum continues to grow for a ban on vaccine mandates in the state of Alabama because we dare defend our rights and all that.
State Sens. Chris Elliott (R-Fairhope) and Arthur Orr (R-Decatur) may have changed the calculus a bit, with help from the people of the state.
Elliott’s SB 9, which passed the full Senate 26-5, requires employers to allow their employees to claim religious or medical exemption from the COVID-19 vaccine and would apply to all employers, private and public.
Appeals would be handled by the Department of Labor.
But skepticism over the chances of the success of this bill remains. The bill could pass the Senate and die in the House.
The bill could get through both and be murdered by a Governor Ivey veto.
While addressing the skeptics on WVNN’s “The Dale Jackson Show” on Wednesday, Elliott brushed off these concerns and said the bill had a real chance to pass and be signed into law.
Elliott said he spoke to McCutcheon and believes he is “supportive of this measure.” Other members of the House are also on board with powerful committee heads ready to support the bill, he added.
The governor, who had been rather cold to the idea of further legislation on this and would prefer the courts be used to fight these mandates may be warming up as well, according to Elliott.
He advised that Ivey would sign the bill if passed based on “conversations with the chief of staff and others,” adding that they “understand that this is important to Alabamians and polls well.”
Elliott believes Ivey would sign any legislation on this matter that had “overwhelming support” in the Senate and the House.
To pass in this special session, both chambers would have to give that support.
Hopefully, this passes.
Hopefully, Governor Ivey signs it.
Hopefully, Alabamians can go to work without fear of losing their jobs.
Elliott thinks there is a chance that this happens very quickly.
If it does, the quick reaction to the will of the people by the “powers that be” would be a welcome sight.
Listen:
Dale Jackson is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9AM weekdays on WVNN and on Talk 99.5 from 10AM to noon.
