On Friday, the Supreme Court criticized Joe Biden’s decision to make millions of American workers who work for large companies get vaccinated and then report for work. Moreover, the administration has also asked for weekly submissions. The High Court has started interfering in this for the very first time now.
Supreme Court Criticizes Biden Administration For Covid Vaccination Rules
The number of infections is quite high at present. Omicron is the most dominant strain right now. The court’s judges have admitted to the state’s powers to acquire and set vaccine norms, but the Federal power also has a higher responsibility.
Three hours of argument on this issue ensued and led to Chief Justice John Roberts stating that the federal government was trying to cover up. It should be a decision for Congress, rather than only the Federal government.
Roberts has also said that, fifty years ago, Congress had passed a general provision that stated that all concerned agencies in these matters should have a free reign. Associate Justice Gorsuch states that it usually sets the public health requirements.
The court’s liberal justices are pushing for the need for Americans to get vaccines. He has also stated that the Federal government was also trying to mitigate the danger associated with Covid-19. It poses a huge threat to the workplace and the national economy as a whole. It seems to create a huge impact on the economy as a whole.
Another Justice, Elena Kagan has said that it feels that federal agencies are required to make expert decisions on such pandemic-like issues. There is no doubt about the fact that extraordinary power is required to mitigate the situation.
The best way to stop the pandemic is to get all the people vaccinated at the earliest. This will impact the economy in a huge manner in the future. The Supreme Court in 2021, had largely stayed away from taking any stances on vaccine mandates. Most cases around that time were focused on whether the states could enforce the mandates without exempting any religious bodies.
Many opponents have gone ahead and pointed out one of Biden’s decisions from last year. It pertains to the moratorium on evictions. The maximum number of votes withheld that the supreme court exceeded its judicial powers with that policy.
All arguing attorneys have attended the virtual meet over teleconferencing. The other justices in the court are also passing judgments with masks on. However, Justice Gorsuch was the only individual who did the arguments in the courtroom without any mask on.
The other justices have already received their two doses of vaccines and booster doses. Many of the justices asked about quickly giving an order to temporarily block enforcement of the employer requirement. This will enable the court to take further time to come to a final decision on this.
The Labor Department as, of now, has taken the time until Monday. By that time, everyone can expect to hear a decision about the requirement for all unvaccinated workers to wear masks. The enforcement has been withheld till February 9. It concerns whether all workers have to attend work after vaccinating or can make it, wearing masks.
President Joe Biden has announced a number of vaccine policies in the meanwhile. It aims at large employers, millions of health workers, and federal contractors. Employers who have hundred or more employees have been asked to get all the workforce vaccinated. Or they might face penalties of $14,000 per violation.
This decision if, enforced, can affect two-thirds of the private workforce. So, it is good to wait for the final decision regarding the same.
