WHITE HOUSE SAYS GOP GOVERNORS ‘PUTTING POLITICS AHEAD OF PUBLIC HEALTH’

The White House on Tuesday took aim at Republican governors for opposing coronavirus vaccine mandates for businesses, accusing them of “putting politics ahead of public health.”

The sharp remarks from White House press secretary Jen Psaki came in response to Abbott’s executive order banning COVID-19 vaccine mandates, a direct challenge to President Biden’s forthcoming vaccine requirement for large private sector organizations.

Psaki said Abbott’s order “fit a familiar pattern that we’ve seen of putting politics ahead of public health,” Psaki told reporters during a briefing Tuesday afternoon.

“Over 700,000 American lives have been lost due to COVID-19, including more than 56,000 in Florida and over 68,000 in Texas, and every leader should be focused on efforts to save lives and end the pandemic,” Psaki continued. “Why would you be taking steps that prevent the saving of lives that make it more difficult to save lives across the country or in any state?”

A number of Republicans vowed to fight Biden’s vaccine rule in court when he announced it in September, accusing the president of overstepping his authority. Legal experts believe Biden will be on strong footing with the rule.