Sen. Manchin to support GOP in nixing vaccine mandate for large businesses

West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin announced on Thursday night that he will support a Republican initiative to rebuff the Biden administration’s vaccine mandate for large businesses, which is expected be put up for a vote in the Senate next week.

All 50 Senate Republicans are supporting the effort and Manchin’s support will give them enough votes to pass a resolution to end the requirement.

“Let me be clear, I do not support any government vaccine mandate on private businesses. That’s why I have cosponsored and will strongly support a bill to overturn the federal government vaccine mandate for private businesses," Manchin said in a statement.

"I have long said we should incentivize, not penalize, private employers whose responsibility it is to protect their employees from COVID-19," he added.

"I have personally had both vaccine doses and a booster shot and I continue to urge every West Virginian to get vaccinated themselves."

The resolution was introduced by GOP senators earlier this year to prevent the Occupational Safety and Health Administration from requiring businesses with at least 100 employees to require their employees to get vaccinated by Jan. 4.

Although Manchin’s vote will enable Senate Republicans – who all support the effort – to nix the vaccine mandate for larger employers, the resolution would likely be vetoed by Biden, even if it passes in the House.

The resolution is expected to hit the floor next week. Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.), who is leading the charge, told The Hill on Thursday night that he is currently in talks with a handful of Democrats sympathetic to his efforts.

“I hope that more Democratic Senators and Representatives will follow Senator Manchin’s strong lead and stand up against this federal overreach that will wreak havoc on our recovering economy and trample on the rights of millions of Americans,” Braun said in a statement.