By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – A committee Tuesday approved a bill to, in effect, allow employers to fire you for not following your workplace’s covid regulations. The bill, which now awaits House debate, amends the “health care right of conscience” act such that you cannot use your religious beliefs as a reason to bypass tests or vaccines if required at your workplace.

Ashley Wright of the attorney general’s office told representatives we’re in for trouble if the bill doesn’t pass. “Not passing this bill ultimately means that the state cannot keep people safe, and we’re talking about nursing homes and veterans’ homes,” said Wright. “We’re also talking about schools. What we are seeing is that there are ‘check the box’ forms being passed out to school personnel, saying they don’t have to get vaccinated. What we are expecting after that is breakouts, school shutdowns, and kids and school personnel getting sick and passing that along to their families and caretakers.”

At least one Republican said this is really all about allowing the governor to control more of our lives singlehandedly.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]