Republicans in Oregon have introduced a bill that would bar the state from implementing “vaccine passport” systems.
Last month, Oregon’s Health Authority issued guidance that residents can go maskless outside but must show proof of vaccination to forgo wearing masks inside, including in houses of worship, businesses, and other venues.
Now, Oregon state Sen. Kim Thatcher has introduced a bill that would ban public and private entities from using vaccination status as a condition for employment or service, and it would keep governments from preventing residents from exercising their First Amendment rights due to COVID-19 risks. COVID-19 is the illness caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus.
“The Governor’s vaccine passport scheme is an extreme invasion of Oregonians’ privacy,” Thatcher said in a news release last week. “No Oregonian should have to divulge medical information to participate in everyday life. This bill is about making clear Oregonians’ rights, which have been railroaded by the Governor during the pandemic. One person cannot and should not have this much power over Oregonians’ lives and livelihoods.”
Thatcher, according to a news release, cited a survey conducted in May from the Medford Chamber of Commerce that found 93 percent of businesses had no intention of implementing a policy that would condition mask-free service on an individual’s vaccination status. Thatcher further argued that such a measure would violate residents’ basic constitutional rights.
