[AZ] Attorney general: Tucson employee vaccine mandate is illegal

The Albuquerque Journal ^ | September 8, 2021 | Jonathan J. Cooper and Jacques Billeaud, AP

[CedarDave]

PHOENIX — Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich said Tuesday that Tucson’s vaccine mandate for its employees is illegal, giving the city 30 days to repeal it or risk losing millions of dollars in state funding.

Democratic-led Tucson has repeatedly clashed with the state’s Republican leadership over the city’s aggressive efforts to control the spread of COVID-19. City Manager Michael Ortega said he put the mandate on hold while Tucson develops its legal position in response to the attorney general’s decision.

Brnovich, who is running for U.S. Senate in a crowded Republican primary, cited a state law approved this summer that bans local governments from mandating vaccines for employees, which doesn’t take effect until later this month. He also cited an August executive order signed by Republican Gov. Doug Ducey.

Tucson’s policy requires employees to get a vaccine “as soon as reasonably possible” or submit a religious or medical exemption. Those who failed to get a first dose by Aug. 24 faced a five-day suspension from work without pay, but it was not immediately clear if the city disciplined anyone for missing the deadline.

The policy also allows the city to charge higher health insurance premiums for unvaccinated workers and require that they wear masks and be regularly tested.

A Pima County judge last month rejected a request by the Tucson police union to stop the vaccine mandate.

[CedarDave]

I wish our NM state officials would act the same way but have instead supported similar mandates requiring all health care professionals from hospital staff to nurses to private practice doctors to pharmacists to be vaccinated or lose their job and/or licenses. The same requirement is being instituted at the Los Alamos and Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico.

[hsmomx3]

Why just state/city employees, why not everyone???

[Luke21]

Asspress piggies throw in words like “reasonably.” Tucson had to be threatened with their loot being cut off.

[\/\/ayne]

City of Tucson’s corrupt lawyers are dropping off bags of cash at various Democrat Judge offices before filing their case.

[teeman8r]

sounds like this guy is trying to redeem his conservativeness with the electorate.

[EEGator]

The latter is a whole lot of hyper-intelligent PhDs.
That could be a huge loss.

[Tupelo]

Now watch Tucson take this to court and the judge telling Brnovich to pound sand. While ordering the state to continue paying Tucson. We are ruled by Judicial Fiat.

[fidelis]

In before the “Wah, Wah, Wah! Why is he just threatening them? Why doesn’t he line them up against a wall and machine gun them?? Why doesnt he drop a nuke on their house?? Why doesn’t he poison their dog??? That’ll teach ‘em!!! Wah, Wah, Wah!!!” crowd

[CedarDave]

Please note the change in ABQ Journal policy for non-subscribers.

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[cbvanb]

The State of Arizona passed a law last year making it illegal to require a vaccine by any employer, but it is routinely ignored. A lot of us wish it would be enforced.