Senate GOP votes to strike Biden’s vaccine rule for health care workers

Senate Republicans on Wednesday voted to strike down President Biden’s vaccine mandate targeting health care workers, in a rebuke of the administration.

Senators voted 49-44 to approve the GOP effort to nix the rule — a vote they were able to force under the Congressional Review Act.

Though no Democratic senators voted with Republicans to eliminate the rule, GOP senators were able to get it through the evenly divided Senate because of Democratic absences. Six Democratic senators missed the vote. 

The mandate was rolled out by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which sought to require the COVID-19 vaccine for health care workers at providers that participate in Medicare and Medicaid. 

But the effort to nix the rule is facing headwinds. The Congressional Review Act sets up a fast track process in the Senate, but it does not greenlight the same procedure in the House.

If it made it to Biden’s desk, Democrats expect that he would veto it.  

“If it passes this won’t go anywhere in the House, and President Biden would veto it,” a Democratic Senate aide said.