Thursday, May 27, 2021 1:00 am
Editorial
Fresh off limiting governor's pandemic powers, lawmakers push Holcomb to intervene at IU
A pitched legal battle furthered by Republican lawmakers seeking to rein in Gov. Eric Holcomb's authority during public health emergencies is raging. Some GOP members of the Indiana General Assembly want the governor to use that authority to stop a measure designed to protect thousands of Hoosiers from COVID-19.
Confused? That's understandable.
Indiana University officials announced last week the college will require coronavirus vaccines for faculty and students attending classes on campus – a move that also applies to the Fort Wayne campus. That doesn't sit well with 19 Republican lawmakers – five are from northeast Indiana, including Fort Wayne Reps. Martin Carbaugh, Chris Judy and Bob Morris – who sent a letter to Holcomb Tuesday, asking that he use “executive authority” to block the directive and future vaccine mandates that might come from state universities.