GOP wants Kansas to move against vaccine mandates this month
By JOHN HANNA
AP Political Writer
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republican lawmakers in Kansas are pushing to enact new state laws before Thanksgiving to protect workers financially if they refuse to comply with federal mandates to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Top GOP leaders called Tuesday for lawmakers to have a special session to consider proposals making it easier for workers to claim religious exemptions from vaccine mandates and providing unemployment benefits to workers who are fired for refusing to get inoculated. Both proposals emerged from a legislative committee meeting Tuesday and are a response to vaccine mandates announced in September by President Joe Biden. Lawmakers can force a special session if two-thirds of them sign a petition.