Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz sent a letter to Gov. Ron DeSantis to inform him of a blatant violation of the state’s executive order against vaccine passports.
Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz sent a letter to Gov. Ron DeSantis to inform him of a blatant violation of the state's executive order against vaccine passports.
Under Florida's Executive Order 21-81, entities such as private companies are allowed to engage in COVID-19 screening, generally, but it does not permit different treatment for vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals, such as requiring individuals to be vaccinated to attend venues or participate in activities.
Gaetz argued in Monday's letter that the state government, least of all, should not be funding organizations that enforce vaccination passports – especially in light of its own executive order prohibiting entities both private and public from treating people based on their coronavirus vaccination status.
As detailed by Gaetz's letter, the congressional district he represents, Walton County, is hosting the 30A Songwriters Festival, which is requiring all patrons and participants to "show proof of full vaccination (two shots of Moderna or Pfizer or one shot of Johnson & Johnson) or proof of a professionally administered negative COVID test within 72 hours immediately prior to the start of the Festival."
"This Festival is funded in part by the Tourist Development Council of Walton County, utilizing taxpayer funds," Gaetz explained in the letter to DeSantis. "Vaccine passports should not be funded by Florida taxpayers."
"I ask that you give this matter your immediate attention and inform the Walty County Tourist Development Council of the ramifications if they proceed in funding the 30A Songwriters Festival under these unlawful conditions," the Republican congressman concluded.
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