Senate votes against vaccine mandate for businesses

The Senate narrowly approved a resolution on Wednesday to overturn the Biden administration’s vaccine mandate and testing requirements for private businesses. The rule required companies with 100 or more workers to ensure their employees receive their COVID-19 shots or undergo weekly testing and wear masks. Companies that failed to comply could receive a fine of more than $13,000 for each violation.

What happens next? The resolution now heads to the Democratic-led House, where it will likely face more resistance. All Republicans and only two Democrats, Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Jon Tester of Montana, backed the measure in the Senate. Republicans have insisted the mandate amounts to government overreach. The resolution can only take effect with President Joe Biden’s signature, and White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the president was prepared to veto it.

Dig deeper: Read Steve West’s report in Liberties on the latest legal challenges to vaccine mandates.