Tester Explains Vote Against Vaccine Mandate

By Bill Vander Weele

U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, said that he changed his mind regarding voting for the vaccine mandate on private businesses with more than 100 employees after hearing from Montanans.

Tester and Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia were the only two Democratic senators to vote in opposition of the vaccine mandate. The measure against the vaccine mandate passed by a 5248 vote Wednesday, Dec. 8.

“I’ve met with Montana’s small business and community leaders in recent months who have raised serious concerns about the negative effect the private business vaccine mandate will have on our state’s economy at a critical point in our recovery,” Tester said. “That’s why I joined a bipartisan majority of my colleagues in defending Montana jobs and small businesses by voting against these burdensome regulations. I strongly urge every eligible Montanan to get vaccinated as soon as possible so we can end this pandemic once and for all.”

During a conference call with the media on Thursday, Dec. 9, Tester said he heard about the negative aspects of a vaccine mandate from business owners.

“It’s very difficult to navigate the mandates,” Tester explained. “It just wasn’t workable. I thought it was too burdensome for them to have.”

He said he was supporting the vaccine mandate before hearing from Montanans. “The businesses certainly moved my position,” the Democrat said. “It was going to slow down their ability to be profitable.”

The senator stressed the importance for people to gain the COVID vaccine. “They are safe, they are free and they are effective,” he said.

Tester said he did have at least one conversation with White House officials prior to the vote.

“I usually try to get everybody’s perspective and then make a decision for what’s best for Montanans,” Tester said.