By Rep. Stephen Bartels
Although written and ratified centuries ago, the U.S. Constitution remains a guiding force for lawmakers at all levels to both protect individual freedoms and guard against government overreach. President Joe Biden’s recent call for vaccine mandates on businesses nationwide, and hefty fines for those that refuse to comply, shows blatant disregard for the U.S. Constitution and is an indefensible overreach.
Federal mandates released in September would direct all employers with 100 or more employees to require vaccinations or weekly testing, and businesses that don’t comply could be fined $14,000 per violation. Federal employees, those who work with the federal government and certain health care workers are also required to comply with the mandate.
I strongly believe no entity – not the government and not a private business – should require someone to get a COVID-19 vaccine for employment. It should be left up to the individual.
The federal government does not have this power. The 10th Amendment limits the powers of the federal government to only those granted in the Constitution, and those not listed are “reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.”
I support Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita in his stand against Biden’s mandates on behalf of our state. He’s currently reviewing all available legal avenues his office can take to stop the president’s actions. On the state level, I will continue to explore ways we can fight effectively to combat these federal mandates.
I support Hoosiers having access to the COVID-19 vaccine, but I believe this is a medical decision only you can make – not the federal government.
To discuss this or other issues, call my office at 317-232-9863 or email [email protected].
State Rep. Stephen Bartels, R-Eckerty, represents House District 74, which includes portions of Spencer, Dubois, Perry, Crawford and Orange counties.