TOPEKA āThe Kansas Legislatureās Special Committee on Government Overreach and the Impact of COVID-19 Mandates held an informational hearing on the legislation to require Kansas businesses to exempt workers from mandates if the employee has medical advice to not be vaccinated or has āsincerely heldā religious beliefs opposing the vaccination.
(Click below to listen to the comments)
Some in attendance were wearing what were described as Jewish stars, according to Daran Duffy, a 2021 candidate for Mayor in Kansas City, Kansas. He said the Jewish Star was a reminder that "everything Adolph Hitler did, he did in accordance with the laws of his country."
Kansas Governor Laura Kelly learned of the statements from the hearing and said on social media, "I condemn these profoundly offensive statements that are an insult to those who died in the Holocaust. Antisemitism has no place in Kansas."
The second proposed bill discussed Friday would allow employees who lose their jobs because they refuse to be vaccinated or to wear a face mask to receive unemployment benefits.
On Friday afternoon, Kelly announced she would use her constitutional power under Article 1, Section 5 of the Kansas Constitution to reconvene the Kansas Legislature for a special session on November 22.