Gov. Kim Reynolds calls President Joe Biden's COVID vaccine mandate plan 'dangerous and unprecedented'
Stephen Gruber-MillerGov. Kim Reynolds on Thursday harshly criticized President Joe Biden's announcement that federal agencies and businesses would be required to vaccinate their employees against COVID-19.
Reynolds, a Republican, has urged eligible Iowans to get vaccinated against COVID-19, but has strongly opposed mandating vaccinations.
"President Biden is taking dangerous and unprecedented steps to insert the federal government even further into our lives while dismissing the ability of Iowans and Americans to make health care decisions for themselves," Reynolds, a Republican, said in a statement.
The centerpiece of Biden's plan, announced Thursday evening, would require businesses with more than 100 employees ensure their workers are vaccinated or tested weekly, a rule that could affect more than 80 million people. The Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration will develop the rule, which could result in penalties of up to $14,000 per violation.
Biden's plan also includes vaccine requirements for health care providers that receive Medicare and Medicaid funding and for teachers and staff at federal programs like Head Start and schools run by the Department of Defense and Bureau of Indian Education. He also signed a pair of executive orders requiring federal executive branch employees and contractors to be vaccinated.
The entire plan is expected to affect about 100 million U.S. workers. It comes as the country is seeing a new surge in COVID-19 cases driven by the more infectious delta variant. In Iowa, cases and hospitalizations have been climbing after dropping earlier in the summer.
About 49.6% of Iowa's population has been vaccinated against COVID-19, including children under 12 who are too young to receive the vaccine. Among those 12 and older, 66.7% have received at least one dose of the vaccine.
Earlier this year, Reynolds signed a law limiting "vaccine passports" by withholding state grants and contracts from local governments or businesses that require customers to prove they have received the COVID-19 vaccine. She has also signed a law banning local governments and school districts from enacting mask mandates.
Reynolds said Biden's plan will worsen the state's workforce shortage and limit its economic recovery.
"As I’ve said all along, I believe and trust in Iowans to make the best health decisions for themselves and their families," she said in the statement. "It’s time for President Biden to do the same. Enough is enough."
More:Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds defends returning $95 million from feds for COVID testing in schools
Senate Minority Leader Zach Wahls, D-Coralville, responded to Reynolds' statement by criticizing her for her COVID-19 policies, including rejecting $95 million in federal money earlier this year that was intended for surveillance testing in schools. Reynolds has said enough money is available for testing.
"Don't be distracted: Governor Reynolds rejected $95,000,000 in federal support to keep our schools safe," "We are in this dangerous delta surge because of the choices made by Iowa Republicans to reject aid, embrace vaccine skepticism, and ignore our responsibilities to each other," Wahls tweeted.
USA Today contributed to this report.
Stephen Gruber-Miller covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. He can be reached by email at sgrubermil@registermedia.com or by phone at 515-284-8169. Follow him on Twitter at @sgrubermiller.