House GOP Opposes Expansion of DPH Commissioner's Power Over Vaccine Schedule
House Republicans oppose a proposal that would give the Public Health Commissioner unchecked authority to mandate vaccines for schoolchildren, cutting out the legislature and parents. They say it’s an aggressive power grab that threatens checks and balances and parental rights.
Key Takeaways
- Lawmakers warn of unchecked public health power over parental rights.
- Republicans demand that legislative oversight of vaccine schedules remain in place.
- Critics say proposal bypasses elected representatives and reduces transparency.
- Governor's proposed bill would further undermine the rights of Connecticut parents.
HARTFORD—House Republican Leader Vincent Candelora and Rep. Nicole Klarides-Ditria, House Ranking Member of the Public Health Committee, stated their opposition Thursday to a controversial proposal from Gov. Lamont that would give his Public Health Commissioner Manisha Juthani absolute power to install vaccine mandates on school children, creating new barriers to entering classrooms.
The governor's proposed House Bill 5044 – An Act Establishing Connecticut Vaccine Standards - would give his Public Health Commissioner Manisha Juthani unchecked authority to mandate vaccines for schoolchildren—bypassing legislative oversight entirely.
"This isn't a small move, it's an incredibly aggressive power grab that strips legislative input and parental control under the guise of safety and places far too much control in the hands of an unelected bureaucrat. This overreach is exactly the kind of legislative creep that Republicans warned about when Democrat legislators voted to disregard the voices of thousands of concerned Connecticut parents and eliminated the religious exemption. In public, they chant "no kings," then behind the closed doors of the legislature they craft bills to swiftly and silently eliminate the rights of Connecticut citizens."
If this measure passes, the Commissioner could unilaterally add flu shots, COVID boosters, or other vaccines to school requirements without approval from the legislature's Regulations Review Committee, which currently has authority to review and reject such policies installed by the commissioner.
"This is yet another attempt to sidestep and prevent parents and guardians from having the ability to make medical decisions of their children, and potentially sets a precedent for further expansion into the workplace. Plainly, this is a radical departure from Connecticut law and will remove important checks and balances on executive power that will impact your family, your neighbors, and your community."