Tennessee Comptroller’s Office Suspends Previously Issued COVID Exemptions
Photo: TN Comptroller, Jason E Mumpower ; Photo Credit: comptroller.tn.gov
The Tennessee Conservative [By Jason Vaughn] –
The Tennessee Comptroller’s Office is suspending all exemptions issued under the provisions of Public Chapter 6 of the 2021 Third Extraordinary Session after federal court judges in Kentucky and Louisiana issued preliminary injunctions on Tuesday, November 30.
The exemptions issued by the Comptroller’s Office allowed private businesses, governmental entities, schools, and other employers with federally awarded or amended contracts, subcontracts, or postsecondary grants to impose COVID-19 vaccine requirements as a condition to receive federal funds.
On Tuesday, A U.S. District Judge in Kentucky ordered a preliminary injunction that prevents the enforcement of President Joe Biden’s federal contractor COVID-19 vaccination mandate in Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee.
Accordingly, the Comptroller’s Office can no longer find that compliance with Public Chapter 6 would result in a loss of federal funding.
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Similarly, a U.S. District Judge from the Western District of Louisiana issued a nationwide preliminary injunction against the Biden Administration on Tuesday enjoining and restraining the federal government from implementing a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services mandate requiring staff of certain healthcare providers to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.
Exemptions have also been granted to Medicare & Medicaid providers by the Comptroller’s Office and these exemptions are also suspended.
The Spokesman for House Speaker Cameron Sexton issued this statement in response, “The speaker has always maintained that federal mandates imposed on Americans by the Biden administration were unconstitutional. These injunctions are the first step in preserving the constitutional rights of Tennesseans and all Americans.”
The Comptroller’s Office has issued 69 exemptions since Public Chapter 6 went into effect on November 12.
The Comptroller’s Office notes that these exemptions may be reinstated if the injunctions are lifted, and it is legally permissible.
The Comptroller’s Office states that they will continue to accept and process notices for exemption during this time; however, no exemptions will be granted unless it is legally permissible.
About the Author: Jason Vaughn, Media Coordinator for The Tennessee Conservative ~ Jason previously worked for a legacy publishing company based in Crossville, TN in a variety of roles through his career. Most recently, he served as Deputy Directory for their flagship publication. Prior, he was a freelance journalist writing articles that appeared in the Herald Citizen, the Crossville Chronicle and The Oracle among others. He graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a Bachelor’s in English-Journalism, with minors in Broadcast Journalism and History. Contact Jason at news@TennesseeConservativeNews.com
