(Washington Insider Magazine) -Abbot’s decision became the latest twist in the fight between pro and anti-mandate politics in Texas, and across America as a whole. However, Texas does have a recent history of side-stepping certain advice from the White House.
In September of this year, President Biden introduced a mandate for all businesses with over 100 employees to ensure that every worker was vaccinated or regularly tested, nationwide.
This mandate from the POTUS was met with criticism from some sections of conservative politics and this new executive order in Texas becomes the latest push back against Biden.
The order comes just as Governor Abbot’s approval rates were dipping, with a 6% drop seen from January to August 2021, finishing at 41%. Abbot will be up for re-election next year, although over half of those asked in Texas believe he should not be chosen.
The executive order read: “No entity in Texas can compel receipt of a COVID-19 vaccine by any individual, including an employee or a consumer, who objects to such vaccination for any reason of personal conscience, based on a religious belief, or for medical reasons, including prior recovery from COVID-19.”
Anyone who violates this new executive order is said to be subject to maximum fines.
This follows another mandate from Abbot back in August, which only covered government entities, rather than businesses. Even before this, the Governor placed a ban on vaccine requirements for shots.
Abbot has claimed that his executive order will be removed in the future, but only if a bill is passed that brings the same order into effect.
Despite all this. Abbot has actually spoken rather positively on the vaccine itself in the past: “The COVID-19 vaccine is safe, effective, and our best defense against the virus, but should remain voluntary and never forced.”
