Rep. Jeanette Ward, R-Casper, is the lead sponsor for House Bill 66. (Matt Idler for Cowboy State Daily)

Watered-Down Vax Bill Advances; Drops Polio, Measles, Mumps, Rubella Language

Published on January 21, 2023 -- in News/Health care

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By Leo Wolfson, State Politics Reporter
Leo@CowboyStateDaily.com

A bill that would prohibit hospitals, businesses, schools and any other facility from mandating COVID-19 vaccinations and other related health requirements has passed a Wyoming Legislature committee, albeit narrowly.

State Rep. Sarah Penn, R-Riverton, gave an impassioned plea to support House Bill 66 shortly before the vote was taken in the House Labor, Health and Social Services Committee meeting Friday morning. ... She brought up historical health discrimination to make her point that personal liberties should take priority over considerations for overall public health.

“Go back in history a little bit further and people of different skin colors weren’t allowed to walk in the same door, they weren’t allowed to use the same drinking fountain,” she said. “Looking back on that, we don’t find that acceptable. ... “But in that timeframe, it was perfectly acceptable. Just because the culture allows it doesn’t mean it’s acceptable to infringe on a human right.”

The bill, titled “Prohibiting Mask, Vaccine and Testing Discrimination” passed out of committee on a close 5-4 vote.

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Rep. Jeanette Ward, R-Casper, was the lead sponsor of the bill and successfully passed an amendment removing the broad scope of the bill, thus narrowing the focus of it to COVID-19.

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ELECTIONS

Jeannette Ward wins race for House District 57 seat in Wyoming Legislature

By BRENDAN LACHANCE | November 8, 2022

CASPER, Wyo. — Jeanette Ward (R) defeated Robert Johnson (D) in the General Election race for the House District 57 seat in the Wyoming Legislature, according to unofficial results from the Natrona County Clerk’s Office.

Ward secured 69.63% of the vote to Johnson’s 29.63%.

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Ward, who previously served on a school board in Illinois before moving to Wyoming, defeated Thomas Myler in the Republican Primary race for the House District 57 seat.

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