A Republican bill (A2585) to exempt health care workers and corrections officers from Governor Phil Murphy’s vaccine mandate was tabled by the Democrat majority on Monday in a 42-33 vote.
The GOP caucus was united with all present members voting against the tabling of the legislation.
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Murphy’s mandate (which includes boosters) was always constitutionally questionable notwithstanding the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision, but the policy value of the mandate in light of rapidly-dropping Covid-19 metrics is equally unclear.
Assemblywoman Beth Sawyer (R-3), a freshman member elected in November alongside Ed Durr, sponsored the bill and argued in its favor from the floor:
