White House press secretary Jen Psaki on Tuesday called Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s vaccine mandate ban “politics,” adding that it goes against available public health data.
She said the executive order fits a “familiar pattern that we’ve seen of putting politics ahead of public health.”
Abbott on Monday issued an executive order in response to what he called the Biden administration’s “bullying.” The order barred all COVID-19 vaccine mandates in the state.
“In another instance of federal overreach, the Biden Administration is now bullying many private entities into imposing COVID-19 vaccine mandates, causing workforce disruptions that threaten Texas’ continued recovery from the COVID-19 disaster,” Abbott said in the order, referring to Biden’s upcoming rule to require private sector companies with more than 100 employees to ensure workers get vaccinated against the coronavirus or face weekly testing before going to work.
Psaki said during a press briefing that Biden’s rule is expected “soon.” She added that federal law overrides state law, so the rule’s legal standing is “unquestionable, in our view.”
When asked why Abbott issued such an executive order knowing the federal rule is coming, Psaki answered: “Politics.”
Cartoons on the Coronavirus
“I think it’s pretty clear when you make a choice that’s against all public health information and data out there that it’s not based on what is in the interest of the people you are governing,” she said. “It’s, perhaps, in the interest of your own politics.”
Psaki also called out Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for floating a law to protect workers from being fired for not getting COVID-19 vaccines and highlighted that both Texas and Florida have had vaccine mandates in schools for decades.
“These decisions put these two leaders out of step with both long-time requirements – a history of vaccine mandates – but also many business leaders in their states,” she said, mentioning Disney and American Airlines, which have announced vaccine requirements.
It’s not the first time Abbott and the White House have clashed over coronavirus mitigation measures. Texas, as well as Florida, have also pushed back on mask mandates, especially in schools.
