October 25, 2021 |
All was quiet on the Eastern Front of Wyoming over the weekend. Hardly a peep was heard from state lawmakers who will convene in a rare special session tomorrow. The goal is to consider legislation addressing government and employer mandated inoculations against COVID-19.
Just as the science is still out on both the efficacy and long-term impacts of the drug, it’s also unknown if lawmakers can muster enough votes to make a three-day session happen.
On this eve of the all-important rules vote where a super-majority is needed, four more votes are still needed in the House and two in the Senate to allow a three-day session.
Representative John Bear took to his Facebook page this weekend to implore voters to call their legislators and urge them to vote yes for the rule change.
Most of the 20 bills in the queue focus on medical freedom. Not everyone is for individual freedom, though. For instance, House Bill 1013 sponsored by Albany County Democrats Cathy Connolly in the House and Chris Rothfuss in the Senate would disqualify a person from receiving unemployment benefits if they quit their job rather than submit to a forced inoculation even though they may have worked throughout last year’s pandemic.
Both Connolly and Rothfuss oppose the special session and a change in the 66th Legislature’s rules, and recently sent a letter to fellow lawmakers saying the $75,000 cost was too much for the state to bear. The Albany County Democrats have led the push to derail the session.
Carbon County Republican Jerry Paxton said last week, he’s hopeful the four votes can be found to change the rules and address the mandate. Paxton said however people feel about the vaccine, they don’t like the mandate.
The legislature convenes tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. with the rules votes. If enough “ayes” are counted, the rules will be adopted. Bills will then be assigned and heard in committee.
As lawmakers arrive at the Capitol tomorrow, they will be greeted by a rally urging them to stand up against medical discrimination. The Freedom Rally is scheduled between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.
More information: https://www.wyominghealthfreedom.org/
Click here to view the Freedom Rally Facebook event
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