The government will not shut down over Republicans protesting vaccine mandates, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell assured Tuesday.
McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, signaled that he expects Senate leaders to come to an agreement on an amendment vote over funding remaining federal vaccine mandates before passing a stopgap measure before government funding runs out on Friday, fulfilling a demand from a group of conservative senators.
“As is often the case, we’ll process a few amendments before doing a short-term [continuing resolution],” McConnell told reporters when asked about the push on Tuesday. “I think it’ll all be worked out. There’s no danger of a government shutdown.”
Six Republicans, led by Utah Sen. Mike Lee, said in a letter to colleagues on Monday that they would not support a stopgap funding measure unless they get an amendment vote on defunding remaining federal vaccine mandates, renewing a stand they took ahead of the last deadline in December.
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“History will bear record of whether we chose to endure tyranny, or oppose it, in this pivotal moment,” the senators wrote. “At a minimum, we need to take a vote on this before funding their enforcement. The livelihoods and personal freedoms of millions of Americans are at stake.”
In addition to the vaccine mandate, Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn put a hold on the continuing resolution over allegations that a federal grant program aimed at reducing the risks of substance abuse could be used to distribute drug paraphernalia, such as crack pipes.
The stand on vaccine mandates is a repeat of a fight that took place in December. Before the end of that government funding deadline, the Senate voted on an amendment from Lee and Kansas Republican Sen. Roger Marshall to defund vaccine mandates. That amendment failed 48-50, and 19 Senate Republicans voted for the stopgap funding measure.
The refusal of McConnell and other Senate Republicans to force a government shutdown over federal vaccines mandates infuriates Texas Republican Rep. Chip Roy, who has been leading the charge in the House to refuse to fund the government.
“‘Process a few amendments?’ What the hell does that even mean? It sounds like more beltway bullsh*t and not fighting for Americans,” Roy tweeted in reaction to McConnell’s remarks.
“Process a few amendments?” What the hell does that even mean? It sounds like more beltway bullsh*t and not fighting for Americans. #DefundVaxMandates https://t.co/cxhmWvFzqC
— Chip Roy (@chiproytx) February 15, 2022
The Biden administration withdrew its vaccine-or-test requirement for private businesses with more than 100 employees after a Supreme Court ruling blocked the rule. But other federal vaccine mandates are taking effect or are being challenged in the courts, affecting federal employees and contractors, healthcare workers, and members of the military.
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The House last week passed a continuing resolution to fund the government at current levels through March 11, and the Senate must pass it before the end of the day on Friday to avoid a government shutdown.
Republican and Democratic budget negotiators hope to reach an agreement on a fiscal year 2022 omnibus spending bill before the new March 11 deadline, setting the first new spending levels under the Biden administration.
