More Oklahoma officials slam Biden's imperial COVID edict

More Oklahoma officials have come out against President Biden's imperial edict relating to COVID-19 vaccination. Below are comments from Congresswoman Stephanie Bice, Congressman Frank Lucas, and State Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat:

Bice Statement on Biden Vaccine Mandate 

Oklahoma City – Representative Stephanie Bice (R-OK-05) released the following statement on President Biden's vaccine mandate:

“Yesterday, President Biden released his ‘Path Out of the Pandemic,' a plan that requires Americans get vaccinated. Biden and his administration have previously stated that there would be no vaccine mandates. They lied. Through this order, Biden has placed the burden on American employers, forcing their employees to be vaccinated or tested weekly. These companies are still in recovery from the pandemic, searching for employees to fill empty positions, and now they must also comply with government mandates or be penalized. The Federal government must focus its efforts on rebuilding the economy, not continuing to encumber the private sector with commands and red tape.

This directive continues the long list of overreaching executive orders that began on day one of Biden’s term. As he laid out the details of this latest order, Biden said: ‘This is not about freedom or personal choice,’ but it is about this very thing. This type of federal overreach is unconstitutional, and yet another example of Democrats’ efforts to grab power at every opportunity. The RNC has already indicated their intent to challenge the authority of this executive order in federal court, a move I wholeheartedly support. 

To be clear, I am proud of the work Operation Warp Speed played in creating this vaccine to combat this deadly disease and I encourage everyone who is able to get vaccinated, but businesses should not be forced to bear the brunt of that responsibility, it should be left to the individual to decide for themselves."

President Biden's exploitation of a vaccine mandate is an egregious act of federal overreach.

— Frank Lucas (@RepFrankLucas) September 10, 2021

Despite efforts through private sector incentives, Oklahoma businesses are now forced to grapple with an impermissible government mandate that hinders their ability to retain workers and recover from the economic effects of COVID.

The President's mandate should be struck down.

— Frank Lucas (@RepFrankLucas) September 10, 2021

Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat opposes president's vaccine mandate

OKLAHOMA CITY - Oklahoma Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, released the following statement in opposition of the president's vaccine mandate:

“This is a gross overreach by President Biden and I support our state’s efforts to protect Oklahoma employers and employees from this federal mandate. The vaccines are safe and effective, but it should remain a choice for each of us to decide whether to get vaccinated. The federal government should not interfere in the decision-making of a private business on the steps it takes to protect the health and safety of its employees and customers."

"A federal mandate is a terrible way to convince more people to get vaccinated, and I am disappointed the president would choose this path rather than working alongside state and local officials, and private business, to further address this health care crisis.”