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Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
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Michael Hiltzik

Michael Hiltzik: Rescinding the military's COVID vaccine rule is the Democrats' dumbest compromise in the lame-duck session

Vaccine Lloyd Austin Republican Party Pentagon Joe Biden Covid-19 Pfizer

If you need evidence that Congress is dominated by its stupidest members, look no further than the apparent agreement in the House to lift the requirement that members of the military be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Congressional sources say that rescinding the mandate, which Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin imposed in August 2021, is part of a compromise aimed at passing this year's $858-billion National Defense Authorization Act during the current lame-duck legislative session.

The House is expected to vote on the act Thursday, with the Senate to follow. The Democratic capitulation to the GOP's demand to rescind the vaccine mandate is an inexcusable dereliction of Congress' duty to care for the health of military service members and the general public.

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