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The latest news about the novel coronavirus and COVID-19 in Montana.

Tester says he'll vote against Biden vaccine rule for large employers

Montana Senator Jon Tester at a committee hearing on missing and murdered indigenous women, Dec. 12, 2018.
Courtesy Sen. Tester's office.
Montana Senator Jon Tester at a committee hearing on missing and murdered indigenous women, Dec. 12, 2018.

Montana’s senior U.S. Senator plans to join Republicans this week in an expected vote to nullify the Biden Administration's vaccine rule for large employers.

Democrat Jon Tester says he opposes the COVID vaccine mandate for private businesses with more than 100 employees. In a statement released Tuesday, Tester described the mandate as a "burdensome regulation."

He says Montanans tell him mandates hurt their bottom lines and the state’s overall economy.

Despite his opposition to mandates, he urged Montanans to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

Tester is joined by fellow Democratic senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia, who recently announced his intent to overturn the Biden mandate.

Montana’s Republican U.S Senator welcomed Tester’s position. Steve Daines encourages his counterpart to oppose all the administration’s vaccine mandates.

Anything short of that, says Daines, renders Tester's announcement as little more than “a show vote."

Federal courts have temporarily halted the mandate for large employers.

Edward O’Brien first landed at Montana Public Radio three decades ago as a news intern while attending the UM School of Journalism. He covers a wide range of stories from around the state.
edward.obrien@umt.edu.  
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