Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has called for a special legislative session to resolve the issue of vaccine mandates in Florida. On Twitter, DeSantis said no one should lose their job over a vaccine.
“I am calling the Florida Legislature back for a Special Session to pursue stronger protections for Floridians against federal government mandates,” DeSantis said. “No one should lose their job over a COVID shot.”
I am calling the Florida Legislature back for a Special Session to pursue stronger protections for Floridians against federal government mandates.
No one should lose their job over a COVID shot.https://t.co/H2v8I3GQiA
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) October 21, 2021
In a press release, DeSantis continued his comments by saying his administration has worked hard to provide Floridians with options to combat COVID, but he was never going to mandate them, and he will not stand for it being imposed on Floridians from the federal government.
“Your right to earn a living should not be contingent upon COVID shots. When the vaccines first came out, we worked very hard to provide it, particularly to our elderly, but we said from day one: we will make it available for all, but we will mandate it on none because ultimately we want individuals to make the determinations about what is right for them. I want a state in which people are able to maintain their livelihoods, earn a living, and provide for their families. And if the federal government or big corporations are hurting people, then we have a responsibility to step up and lead.”
The calls to push back against President Joe Biden’s vaccine mandate was also supported by Florida’s recently appointed Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo.
“Condemning Americans to financial instability is detrimental to the well-being of this country and to public health. The Governor has made it clear: Florida will not stand by and allow hard working citizens to be subjected to unemployment because they are being forced to show vaccine documentation, especially those who have remained on the front lines of COVID-19 for nearly two years now. The Department of Health will continue to protect Floridians through multi-faceted and data-driven solutions, not overreach.”
Florida progressives reacted on social media with criticism of DeSantis saying the special session is a “political ploy” and continued “politicization of COVID-19.”
“DeSantis’ special session is just a political ploy that will restrict the freedom of Florida businesses,” said Congressman and gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist (D-FL-13). “I’ll be a governor that stands behind business owners, not against them.”
DeSantis’ special session is just a political ploy that will restrict the freedom of Florida businesses.
I’ll be a governor that stands behind business owners, not against them.
— Charlie Crist (@CharlieCrist) October 22, 2021
Florida State Rep. Anna Eskamani (D-FL-47) said she would have rather seen a special session for Floridians on unemployment rather than vaccine mandates.
“The politicization of #COVID19 continues,” Eskamani said. “Despite casing going down due to people getting vaccinated our Governor wants to drag this out & drag the rest of us w/him. There was no special session for fixing the unemployment system but apparently THIS is worth it.”
The politicalization of #COVID19 continues.
Despite casing going down due to people getting vaccinated our Governor wants to drag this out & drag the rest of us w/him.
There was no special session for fixing the unemployment system but apparently THIS is worth it. 🤦♀️ https://t.co/edG50WAkqw
— Rep. Anna V. Eskamani 🔨 (@AnnaForFlorida) October 21, 2021
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Grant Holcomb is a reporter at The Florida Capital Star and The Star News Network. Follow Grant on Twitter and direct message tips.
Photo “Protect Florida Jobs” by Ron DeSantis.
