Senate vaccine mandate vote shows Congressional weakness on regulations

December 14, 2021

Last week, the Senate voted 52-48 to use the Congressional Review Act to repeal the regulations issued by OSHA to mandate vaccines or COVID-19 testing in workplaces with more than 100 employees.  The vote generated headlines but the impact of the vote on actual COVID-19 vaccine policy is zero.

The Congressional Review Act allows Congress to pass resolutions of disapproval of executive branch regulations without having to worry about the filibuster in the Senate (yes, the same people who zealously defend the filibuster are happy to see it waived in policy areas where they would like quick Congressional action). It has generally only been successfully used at the beginning of a presidential administration to repeal regulations from the previous president. 

Opinion by Stuart Shapiro, The Hill, December 13, 2021

Recent Posts

Risk Analysis Celebrates Distinguished Prof. Greenberg

Michael Greenberg: Master Synthesizer of Risk, Public Health, and Public Policy by Joanna Burger & Karen W. Lowrie Michael Greenberg is an extraordinary researcher, teacher, and pioneer who has combined his broad knowledge and expertise in environmental...

STEM Pathways are a Two-Way Street, Not a “Leaky Pipeline”

A new article in the Journal for STEM Education Research challenges the longstanding “leaky pipeline” narrative that has shaped U.S. education and workforce policy for decades. The article, “Reconceptualizing College STEM Pathways: Is ‘Leaving STEM’ the Problem?”, was...

NJSPL: New Jersey’s New E-Bike Laws – What Comes Next?

New Jersey’s New E-Bike Laws: Safety, Impact, and What Comes Next Leigh Ann Von Hagen & Gabrielle Cain In recent years, e-bikes have become an increasingly popular form of micromobility, which are small, lightweight transportation devices designed for short trips...

Heldrich: Aligning NJ’s AI Policy with Small Business Needs

Researchers at the Heldrich Center for Workforce Development, with funding from the New Jersey State Policy Lab, are currently engaged in a project to examine how New Jersey’s public Artificial Intelligence (AI) initiatives can better align with the evolving needs of...

EJB Talks: Planning, Policy, Politics, and the Path to Office

Planning, Policy, Politics, and the Path to Office with Assemblywoman Katie Brennan This week on EJB talks, Dean Stuart Shapiro talks to Bloustein alumnus Katie Brennan MCRP '12, now an Assemblywoman in New Jersey's 32nd District. Katie reflects on how her early...