Sen. Berthel Supports Religious, Medical Freedom; Opposes Controversial Vaccine Bill Expanding State Authority

State Sen. Eric Berthel (R-Watertown) today opposed sweeping, controversial legislation that establishes a state-controlled vaccine “standard of care” under the Department of Public Health for adult residents and prevents the use of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act in school vaccine mandates, among other provisions.

“On a daily basis, we continue to see Connecticut Democrats deliberately passing legislation that diminishes your freedom. Whether it is the right to decide what you inject into your body via vaccine, your constitutional right to carry a gun, or your constitutional right to homeschool your children, majority Democrats believe themselves to be smarter than you and must make these personal decisions for you in all these areas.

“This legislative session has shown the most egregious abuse of Connecticut Democrat majority power ever. I hope that the people will remember these decisions in November,” he said.

The Senate approved the bill along mostly party lines. It now heads to Gov. Ned Lamont’s desk.

Sen. Berthel firmly stood with families and residents in March during a public hearing on the measure, where hundreds voiced their overwhelming opposition to what they say are dangerous rollbacks to religious and medical freedoms. Legislative Democrats capped that public hearing to 14 hours, breaking the longstanding tradition of allowing each member of the public to be heard.