LAKELAND, Fla. – Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday announced a lawsuit against the Biden administration while saying he will call a special session for the state legislature by Friday.
DeSantis made the remarks at a news briefing at the Florida Air Museum in Lakeland.
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The state of Florida is suing the Biden administration over its coronavirus vaccine mandate for federal contractors, opening yet another battleground between the Republican governor and the White House.
The lawsuit alleges that the president doesn’t have the authority to issue the rule and that it violates procurement law.
DeSantis has vowed legal action over federal vaccination requirements and fought masking and vaccine rules implemented by local governments.
Biden has argued that the mandates are crucial to bringing an end to the pandemic. But Republicans nationwide have opposed the vaccination requirements and have threatened to bring similar legal challenges.
Meantime, DeSantis, who previously announced he would call a special session to address vaccine mandates in Florida, said he will sign a proclamation for the session by Friday at the latest. He said he hopes to fortify rules on parents’ rights and masks in schools.
DeSantis said the special session will be held in November, with the exact dates to be announced in the proclamation.
Watch Live: The State of Florida files a lawsuit against the Biden Administration to challenge their unconstitutional federal contractor vaccine mandate.https://t.co/wIlsfLwT6A
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) October 28, 2021
The presser has begun in Lakeland. @GovRonDeSantis says Florida will be calling special session today or tomorrow address vaccine mandates and @AGAshleyMoody is suing the Federal government over the contractor mandate. The dates of session are being finalized right now.
— Kyle Lamb (@kylamb8) October 28, 2021