Peach Tree Times

According to a press release by the Office of Governor, Gov. Brian. Kemp and Attorney General Chris Carr have filed a lawsuit to stop the enforcement of the Biden administration's vaccine mandate for health care workers.

"Yet another unlawful mandate from the Biden administration will only worsen worker shortages in a critical-need area as we continue to balance the everyday healthcare needs of hardworking Georgians and fighting COVID-19." Kemp said via Twitter. 

The plaintiffs are asking the court to enjoin the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and CMS from enforcing the mandate for Medicare and Medicaid workers, the release said. 

According to Augusta CEO, Carr said, "With this latest unconstitutional mandate, the Biden administration is targeting a health care community that is already reeling from the impacts of a global health pandemic. Georgia health care providers, particularly those located in our rural areas, cannot afford to lose workers or lessen care services due to the unlawful actions of the federal government. We will continue to stand up for the rule of law and defend against this blanket mandate as we work to protect the citizens of this state."

Georgia joined the states of Louisiana, Montana, Arizona, Alabama, Idaho, Indiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Utah and West Virginia in filing the lawsuit with the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, the release said.

A hearing on that request is scheduled to take place on Dec. 7, the release said. "After healthcare heroes went above and beyond the call of duty to keep Americans safe and healthy throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Joe Biden is now threatening their livelihood if they refuse COVID-19 vaccination," Kemp said in the release.