On his first full day in office, West Virginia's Republican Governor Patrick Morrisey issued several executive orders that significantly reshape state policies. Notably, Morrisey on Tuesday introduced a measure allowing families to get religious exemptions to mandatory school vaccinations, diverging from the state's traditionally robust vaccination mandates. Additionally, he moved to abolish Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives across state institutions, positing it would prevent "inappropriate" preferential treatment.
The governor's actions have sparked debate. State Democratic Party Chair Mike Pushkin criticized the orders as potential overreach and accused Morrisey of using "divisive rhetoric" to divide along racial lines, suggesting the governor seems keen to not only create laws but also interpret them. Morrisey contends his role is to ensure the Constitution is respected, reflecting a broader Republican trend under incoming President Trump to dismantle what is perceived as "wokeness" in education.
The decision on vaccine exemptions marks a departure from former Governor Jim Justice's policies; he previously vetoed similar legislation. Historically, West Virginia allowed only medical exemptions and has boasted some of the country's highest vaccination rates. Morrisey argues religious exemptions should be permitted based on the 2023 Equal Protection for Religion Act. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
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