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The truck driver who dethroned incumbent New Jersey Senate President Steve Sweeney says Democrats in control of the Legislature are seeking 2021 election revenge with a proof-of-vaccination mandate for lawmakers.
Republican Sen.-elect Edward Durr said the rule, which was been met Thursday by GOP defiance, was a "slap at the people," according to the New Jersey Globe. Under the new policy, members are required to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test result with 72 hours in order to be allowed to take part in the legislative session.
"He's following the progressive left," Durr said of Sweeney, according to the report. "I think the Democrats are lashing out because of the election results. This is a slap at the people. It's a punishment."
At least 10 Republican lawmakers made their way to the state Assembly chamber ahead of Thursday's voting session, the first day the vaccine requirement was in effect, and, after being briefly stopped by law enforcement, entered without showing proof of vaccination or a negative test in an act of defiance, according to the Associated Press.
Hours later, a state appellate court handed a victory to Republicans who filed a suit by temporarily blocking the proof-of-vaccination requirement, the report said.
Durr beat Sweeney in November by a little more than 2,000 votes and takes office next month. Republicans almost had another big upset in the close governor's race that ultimately went to incumbent Phil Murphy, a Democrat, who criticized the GOP opposition to the statehouse COVID-19 rule as "reckless."
Durr said he was in Trenton on Wednesday for an orientation and showed proof of a recent COVID-19 test before entering the state Capitol complex, the New Jersey Globe reported.
"These are draconian measures. They are on the wrong side of this topic," Durr said. "It's not that people are anti-vax — it's that people are anti-government-telling-them-what-to-do."
(AP)
