October 26, 2021
Jim Evancho
Governor Kay Ivey has issued executive order 724 to push back against the Biden administration’s vaccine mandate. In a written statement, Governor Ivey wrote:
“The federal government’s outrageous overreach has simply given us no other option, but to begin taking action, which is why I am issuing this executive order to fight these egregious covid-19 vaccine mandates. Alabamians – and Americans alike – should and must have the choice to roll up their sleeves to get this shot and certainly not forced by government. While President Biden laughs at the idea of protecting your freedoms, I will continue fighting for Alabama businesses and their employees.
“If the federal government presses on with these new federal mandates, then the Biden White House has once again failed the American people. As I have stated, no doubt, this will be challenged in federal courts. I am already working in concert with Attorney General Steve Marshall, because Alabama is standing firm in this fight. This latest move by the federal government is what I believe is an illegal overreach, and I am confident we will win the battle in the courts.
“I am adamantly opposed to federal mandates related to the covid-19 vaccine and adamantly opposed to state mandates related to the covid-19 vaccine, plain and simple. As long as I am your governor, the state of Alabama will not force anyone to take a covid-19 vaccine. Through today’s order, the state of Alabama is making our position on this issue crystal clear. A state law in response to President Biden is not enough. The courts are where this will be resolved. Today is one step in this fight, but certainly not the last.
“Alabamians are overwhelmingly opposed to these outrageous, Biden mandates, and I stand firmly with them.”
Although the current mandate applies to federal employees and our military service members, it also applies to private businesses with 100 or more employees and all health care workers that work in a facility that accepts federal Medicaid and Medicare.
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall’s office has not formally filed any challenges at this time, but they are waiting for OSHA to set in place a rule for employees to be vaccinated as a part of employment.
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