Healthcare

House Judiciary GOP members blast CDC for reportedly taking cues from teachers unions

Published

7 months ago

May 13, 2021

Staff Writer

Screen Shot 2021 02 03 at 3.54.56 PM scaled

Republican members of the House Judiciary Committee are accusing the CDC of allowing politics to trump the science. In a Wednesday letter to CDC Director Rochelle Walensky, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), Rep. James Comer (R-KY) and Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) claim political interference from the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) “resulted in months-long delays in the reopening of schools to the detriment of American children.”

In emails obtained by Americans for Public Trust, Walensky appears to have had a very close relationship with Kelly Trautner, senior director of health issues for AFT. In the emails, Trautner thanks Walensky for her “genuine desire to earn our confidence” and her “commitment to partnership.” The director has earned this confidence by accepting “feedback” provided by Trautner to “strengthen the document” on schools reopening from February 12th.

So, the ranking members are demanding that all communication between any and all CDC employees and teacher union representatives be handed over. This is an effort to ensure that past CDC guidance hasn’t “depart[ed] from established science” by allowing other interest groups to interfere. The deadline for submitting all documents to the committee is May 26th.

You can follow Jenny Goldsberry on Twitter @jennyjournalism

Related Topics:American Federation of Teachers CDC james comer Jim Jordan Rochelle Walensky Virginia Foxx

Healthcare

American and Southwest stand by vaccine mandate, despite Abbott’s ban

Published

2 months ago

October 13, 2021

Staff Writer

American Airlines and Southwest Airlines are still planning to comply with President Biden’s executive order regarding the COVID-19 vaccine. The order requires all their employees to be vaccinated by Dec. 8t. As a result, they will be ignoring Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s ban on vaccine mandates.

Folks, vaccination requirements work. pic.twitter.com/XuBsOQxGaN
— President Biden (@POTUS) October 9, 2021

Abbott announced his own executive order, effectively banning mandates even from private employers, on Tuesday. “In another instance of federal overreach, the Biden Administration is now bullying many private entities into imposing COVID-19 vaccine mandates, causing workforce disruptions that threaten Texas’ continued recovery from the COVID-19 disaster,” Abbott said. “The COVID-19 vaccine is safe, effective, and our best defense against the virus, but should remain voluntary and never forced.”

Yet both airlines are requiring their employees to be vaccinated by Nov. 24. This comes despite Southwest’s impromptu cancellation of over 2,000 flights over the weekend. At the time, the airline blamed the cancellations on air traffic control and weather conditions. However, SaraACarter.com was unable to verify that any other airline had to cancel near as many flights for the same reasons. This has left many to speculate that Southwest actually cancelled flights due to their employees walking out as a direct result of the mandate.

Just got passed this flyer from a Southwest employee #FreedomFlu pic.twitter.com/Q5gXGhxoma
— Handbrake Poso (@JackPosobiec) October 13, 2021

Reporter Jack Posobiec tweeted out a flyer circulating among the anti-vaxx Southwest employees. Currently, they are planning a protest outside of Southwest headquarters next Monday. The protest will be called “Freedom Not Force.”

Southwest told Reuters it “would be expected to comply with the President’s Order to remain compliant as a federal contractor.” In addition, American similarly said Abbott’s order does not change anything.

You can follow Jenny Goldsberry on Twitter @jennyjournalism.