Four Senate Republicans NO SHOWS for Vote to Defund Biden’s COVID-19 Jab Mandates, Ensuring Failure

Four Senate Republicans failed to show up for work and vote on an amendment that would have defunded Biden’s remaining COVID-19 jab mandates.

While the Supreme Court blocked the OSHA mandate for large employers, the federal government can still enforce the other mandates, which include the mandates on medical workers, military personnel, federal employees, and federal contractors.

The Senate vote on Sen. Mike Lee’s (R-UT) amendment to the continuing resolution (CR), which would defund Biden’s remaining COVID-19 jab mandates, ended in a 46-47 defeat.

These four GOP Senators need a primary challenger for their next election:

• Mitt Romney (R-UT)
• Jim Inhofe (R-OK)
• Lindsey Graham (R-SC)
• Richard Burr (R-NC)

Sen. Lee made this speech on the Senate floor demanding to defund the mandates:

Federal vaccine mandates are immoral. pic.twitter.com/2emONqdVZe

— Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) February 17, 2022

Missing R’s keeping vax mandates alive? Romney (UT), Inhofe (OK), Burr (NC), & Graham (SC). No excuses – they should all be shamed. Now – EVERY @SenateGOP should be held accountable for voting to fund this government. Watch, count the votes, then act. #DefundVaxMandates https://t.co/Wir53zOCmH

— Chip Roy (@chiproytx) February 17, 2022

Absences help scuttle Lee amendment to nix vaccine mandates. Vote fails 46-47. Dems had three absences: Feinstein, Lujan, Kelly. But GOP had four: Romney, Graham, Burr, Inhofe. Simple majority was needed for adoption

— Manu Raju (@mkraju) February 17, 2022

Senate voted on Sen. Mike Lee’s (R-UT) amendment to the continuing resolution (CR), which would defund Biden’s remaining vax mandates.

The measure failed 46-47, with Sens. Mitt Romney (R-UT), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Richard Burr (R-NC) failing to show up.

— Mike (@mikelvilletx) February 18, 2022

Imagine Burr, Inhofe, Romney and Graham thinking that they had something more important than defeating sickening mandates on human bodies. If they don't want to be there for the most important votes they should resign.

— Daniel Horowitz (@RMConservative) February 17, 2022

Breitbart reported:

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) set the vote threshold to a majority, and it remains possible that he could have set the threshold to 60 if Republicans had enough votes to pass with a majority; however, Democrats broke and voted to defund Biden’s private employer mandate the last time they voted on vaccine mandates. This could have put more pressure on Democrats to support the defunding of Biden’s vaccine mandates.

This is absurd!

These four “Republicans” failed in their duties to serve the American people, as well as their constituents, by NOT voting to defund vaccine mandates.

Like GarbaRINO, these “Republicans” are a part of the problem. https://t.co/UiN1ajQV7c

— Cait Corrigan (@iamcaitcorrigan) February 18, 2022

.@SenMikeLee's amendment to defund Biden's unconstitutional vax mandates failed because FOUR Senate Republicans were MISSING IN ACTION!@SenatorBurr, @LindseyGrahamSC, @JimInhofe and @SenatorRomney all missed this crucial vote.

And Inhofe & Romney voted earlier today!

UNREAL! https://t.co/CfQY2Spyet

— Rep. Jody Hice (@CongressmanHice) February 17, 2022

These cowards are not up for re election in 22. Put their names in your diary for When they do come up, and send them a little electoral message.
Four Senate Republicans Fail to Show Up for Vote on Amendment Defunding Vaccine Mandates, Ensuring Failure https://t.co/83rAGgxmVp

— David M. Poff (@realDavidMPoff) February 18, 2022

Lee and Sens. Roger Marshall (R-KS), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Mike Braun (R-IN), Rand Paul (R-KY), and Ted Cruz (R-TX) have led the fight to defund Biden’s COVID-19 jab mandates.

Roll Call added:

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The Senate sent the stopgap to President Joe Biden’s desk on a 65-27 vote, with one day to spare before all current funding for federal departments and agencies is set to expire.

The final vote came after several days of private negotiating over procedure. Adoption of any amendments would have required the bill to be sent back for another vote in the House, which is now in recess.

Democrats had an uphill fight in the 50-50 Senate because three of their members have been absent this week. But the task became easier because senators from both parties were itching to leave the Capitol late in the day to attend the Munich Security Conference. With fewer Republicans on hand to vote, GOP amendments could more easily be defeated.

Republicans offered two amendments designed to register their opposition to COVID-19 vaccine mandates. An amendment by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, to deny funding to school districts with vaccine mandates was defeated, 44-49, with two Republicans, Roy Blunt of Missouri and Susan Collins of Maine, joining all Democrats in opposition.

A broader amendment by Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, which would have denied funding to enforce any federal vaccine mandates, was shot down on a vote of 46-47.

So, add these two names to GOP Senators who need a primary challenger for their next election:

• Roy Blunt (R-MO)
• Susan Collins (R-ME)