The attempt to restore jobs and back pay for firefighters who were terminated for refusing or criticizing the Covid-19 vaccine failed, due to the “no” votes of four Republicans and all Democrats, including Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski.
The “Support the Reinstatement of Trained and Effective Firefighters” amendment proposed by U.S. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky was defeated 54-45 in the Senate.
The amendment sought to provide funding to fire departments that fired firefighters for their refusal to take the vaccine or their opposition to Covid-19 mandates, only if they reinstated those firefighters and offered them back pay.
Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Mitt Romney of Utah, Mike Rounds of South Dakota, and Murkowski voted against the amendment. Dianne Feinstein did not vote, as she has been sidelined by age-related illness, including dementia.
“It seems bizarre and contradictory to provide financial support to increase fire department staffing when decisions were made to terminate trained and effective firefighters for no good reason. Firefighters tend to be young and fit, the very people who had the least to worry about COVID-19,” said Paul, before the vote.
“These people were never a threat to their communities. On the contrary, they served their communities bravely and made their neighbors safer. What was done to them, what was done to police, what was done to first responders was shameful and we should stand together to make sure it never happens again,” said Paul.
