WASHINGTON – The Senate granted Sen. Ted Cruz’s demand Thursday night for a vote to block local school boards from requiring COVID-19 vaccines but then promptly rejected his proposal.
Cruz and a handful of Republican allies had threatened to force a government shutdown if they didn’t get floor votes aimed at ending vaccine mandates.
Cruz’s proposal to cut off federal funds for school districts failed on a vote of 44 in favor, 49 against, after a brief debate that saw Democrats and Republicans swap their traditional stances on the extent of federal power to overrule local government, particularly during a public health crisis.
