OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – A bunch of lawmakers despatched a letter to Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell, in his position as Performing Governor of Oklahoma, requesting govt motion to ban vaccine mandates for Oklahoma healthcare employees whereas Gov. Kevin Stitt visits Azerbaijan abroad.
This letter, despatched on July 28, is a comply with as much as one despatched to Governor Kevin Stitt on July 15.
Rep. Sean Roberts, R-Hominy, spearheaded the letter and mentioned that the urgency of the state of affairs necessitates the necessity to act swiftly and decisively.
“I’ve been working to establish points at our state’s healthcare services. I’ve found that not solely are extra services transferring in direction of mandating the COVID-19 vaccine, however they’re denying reputable medical and non secular exemptions,” mentioned Roberts. “…The collective takeaway from these messages is that the time to behave is now and if we don’t, we could also be dealing with a healthcare worker scarcity disaster.”
In line with Roberts, the Oklahoma Structure permits the Workplace of Governor to be transferred to the Lt. Governor when the Governor is faraway from the state. This contains all powers held throughout the Workplace of Governor.
The next lawmakers signed on to the letter:
- Rep. Sean Roberts, R-Hominy
- Rep. Lonnie Sims, R-Jenks
- Rep. Steve Bashore, R-Miami
- Rep. Denise Crosswhite Hader, R-Piedmont
- Rep. Mike Dobrinski, R-Okeene
- Rep. Justin Humphrey, R-Lane
- Rep. Jim Olsen, R-Roland
- Rep. Mark Vancuren, R-Owasso
- Rep. Kevin West, R-Moore
- Rep. Rick West, R-Heavener
- Rep. David Smith, R-Arpelar
- Rep. Tom Gann, R-Inola
- Rep. Wendi Stearman, R-Collinsville
- Rep. Chris Sneed, R-Fort Gibson
- Rep. Randy Randleman, R-Eufaula
- Rep. Kevin McDugle, R-Damaged Arrow
- Rep. David Hardin, R-Stilwell
- Rep. Sherri Conley, R-Newcastle
- Rep. Danny Williams, R-Seminole
- Rep. Max Wolfley, R-Oklahoma Metropolis
The total textual content of the letter could be seen under:
Oklahoma Home of Representatives
July 28, 2023
Performing Governor Pinnell,
As I’m positive you might be conscious there are numerous healthcare services throughout the state which have determined to mandate the COVID-19 vaccines to their 1000’s of staff. These staff are the heroes that stood on the entrance line of the pandemic caring for those who had fallen unwell to COVID-19.
Many Oklahomans are about to have their paychecks used towards them to make a medical determination that goes towards their beliefs. Healthcare employees are left to decide on between taking a vaccine licensed for emergency use or danger dropping their job, this goes towards “liberty and justice for all.” If we don’t defend the person’s proper to decide on what goes of their physique, we now not stay in a free society.
The Oklahoma legislature had payments launched final session that had been associated to those kind of vaccine mandates, however none of those payments got here to be regulation. Another states within the nation have taken motion on these points whereas others already had legal guidelines on the books to guard their healthcare employees. For instance in Oregon, staff equivalent to well being care suppliers, well being care facility staff, scientific lab staff, regulation enforcement, and firefighters are protected by a 1989 state regulation that claims “A employee shall not be required as a situation of labor to be immunized” except in any other case required by federal or state regulation.
After speaking with healthcare employees and residents throughout the state a lot of my colleagues and I’ve come to the conclusion this is a matter that requires the fast consideration of our State Authorities. The quickest and best solution to defend these employees is an govt order prohibiting these mandates.
These signed onto this letter and I respectfully request you draft an govt order to take care of this situation. In case you deem this to be a problem the legislature must handle, we respectfully request you name the legislature into particular session to finish medical tyranny and assist us safe and defend our most elementary human rights and civil liberties.
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Roberts, and people signed onto the letter, say they imagine that the present state of affairs requires the fast motion of the state authorities and has led to the pressing request for Pinnell to behave.
Stitt arrived in Baku, Azerbaijan on Monday, June 26 for a weeklong journey.
