Appeals court temporarily halts Biden vaccine mandate for larger businesses

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Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, right, pictured with Gov. John Bel Edwards in 2020, said the court action halts President Biden’s administration from «moving forward with his unlawful overreach.»





Bill Feig/The Advocate via AP



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Bill Feig/The Advocate via AP



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«The president will not impose medical procedures on the American people without the checks and balances afforded by the constitution,» said a statement from Landry, a Republican.

At least 27 states filed lawsuits challenging the rule in several circuits, some of which were made more conservative by the judicial appointments of former President Donald Trump.

The Biden administration has been encouraging widespread vaccinations as the quickest way to end the pandemic that has claimed more than 750,000 lives in the United States.

The administration says it is confident that the requirement, which includes penalties of nearly $14,000 per violation, will withstand legal challenges in part because its safety rules pre-empt state laws.

The 5th Circuit, based in New Orleans, said it was delaying the federal vaccine requirement because of potential «grave statutory and constitutional issues» raised by the plaintiffs. The government must provide an expedited reply to the motion for a permanent injunction Monday, followed by petitioners’ reply on Tuesday.