Across the country, elected leaders are suing to prevent President Joe Biden’s vaccine mandates. However, Michigan’s Attorney General Dana Nessel refuses to weigh in on the constitutional matter.
Most recently, a ruling from U.S. District Judge Stan Baker halted a provision that required contractors working with the federal government to receive the coronavirus vaccine, one of the last remaining national vaccine mandates.
“The Court acknowledges the tragic toll that the COVID-19 pandemic has wrought throughout the nation and the globe,” Baker wrote in the opinion that stopped the mandate. “However, even in times of crisis this Court must preserve the rule of law and ensure that all branches of government act within the bounds of their constitutionally granted authorities.”
However, when asked about opposing the measure by the Detroit Free Press, a spokesperson for Nessel said that it is “unlikely” that Michigan will join other states to stop the mandate.
“Dana Nessel needs to get off the sidelines on such a critical issue and stand up for Michigan residents and businesses,” said Eric Ventimiglia, Executive Director for Michigan Rising Action. “Michiganders deserve an Attorney General who puts politics aside and protects them from unconstitutional federal overreach.”
If the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit did not pause a mandate from the Biden administration, certain businesses could have faced fines up to $136,000.
Instead of opting to fight against the regulation, Whitmer and Nessel have opted to pursue shutting down an oil pipeline, which could cause energy prices in the region to increase.
Whitmer withdrew a federal lawsuit against the Line 5 pipeline, so Nessel’s other suit could continue in state court.
“I fully support the Governor in her decision to dismiss the federal court case and instead focus on our ongoing litigation in state court. The state court case is the quickest and most viable path to permanently decommission Line 5. The Governor and I continue to be aligned in our commitment to protect the Great Lakes and this dismissal today will help us advance that goal,” Nessel said in a statement.
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Cooper Moran is a reporter for The Star News Network. Follow Cooper on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Dana Nessel” by Dana Nessel.
