AUGUSTA — The Maine House has rejected a bill that aims to outlaw the discrimination of people who choose not be vaccinated.
The Democratic-controlled House voted 102-42 against Republican Rep. David Sawicki’s bill on Monday. It faces further votes.
The bill would amend the Maine Human Rights Act to ensure that people who forgo vaccinations aren’t discriminated by employers or schools.
Sawicki and others who question the safety of vaccines say the state should protect people’s right to choose whether they want to be inoculated.
But Democratic Rep. Linda Sanborn called the bill “a dangerous piece of legislation.”
Democratic Rep. Matt Moonen said the Human Rights Act is intended to protect against discrimination of traits people can’t choose, like race and sex, and not a choice, like whether someone was vaccinated.
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