JEFFERSON CITY — Missouri Gov. Mike Parson signaled Tuesday he may support awarding unemployment benefits to people who are terminated from their jobs for not complying with a COVID-19 vaccine requirement.
Six months after announcing the end of federal pandemic jobless benefits in an attempt to get more people into the workforce, Parson may be seeking to join Iowa and other states that are offering support to people who are fired for not getting a shot.
“The governor is always open to making improvements to any program in state government especially when it comes to protecting the workforce from overreaching federal vaccine mandates,” Parson spokeswoman Kelli Jones said Tuesday.
People are also reading…
The suggestion comes as workers at businesses with more than 100 employees face a Jan. 4 deadline to get vaccinated against COVID-19 or face mask requirements and weekly tests.
The Biden administration to bring an end to the pandemic, which has killed more than 12,000 Missourians.
Private businesses, health care companies and others also are mandating vaccinations, but Missouri’s rate of fully vaccinated people remains below the 50% level despite medical evidence that the vaccines are safe and effective.
Jones did not address whether the administration believes such a maneuver could be done without involving the Legislature, which is not currently in session.
“People need to work but should not be forced to choose between their job and allowing the Biden administration to dictate their personal health decisions,” Jones said.
Parson may be looking at Iowa for guidance on his position.
In October, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a new law allowing Iowa workers to seek medical and religious exemptions from COVID-19 vaccine mandates and guarantees that those who are fired for refusing a vaccine will qualify for unemployment benefits.
Reynolds, a Republican, signed the bill a day after the during a one-day special session convened to act on the state’s redistricting maps. The law became effective immediately.
Like Parson, Reynolds has opposed government requirements for masks and vaccines, despite medical science showing both tools are effective in reducing the spread of the coronavirus.
Tennessee lawmakers also have approved legislation assuring people who are fired because they refused to get the coronavirus vaccines that they will be eligible for unemployment benefits.
Parson is backing a lawsuit filed by Republican Attorney General Eric Schmitt that challenges Biden’s vaccine requirements.
In cutting off federal pandemic unemployment benefits in June, Parson said he was trying to get workers back into jobs at a time when the pandemic’s toll was ebbing and businesses were struggling to find workers.
Business groups, who supported Parson in his 2020 bid for a full, four-year term, complained at the time that the enhanced benefits enticed laid-off workers to stay home.
Data has since proven that the cut-off had little effect on the labor market.