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April 16, 2021 (LifeSiteNews) — While far-left states implement or plan to implement digital health “passports” that show proof of COVID-19 vaccinations, more Americans are pushing back against such schemes, with some red states banning or working to ban them.

Rep. Andy Briggs (R-AZ) has introduced a federal ban on vaccine passports, but it’s unlikely House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) will bring the bill to the floor for a vote.

Americans and supporters of freedom around the world have panned “vaccine passports” as discriminatory, coercive, antithetical to civil rights, and a form of “medical apartheid.”

New York became the first American state to implement a so-called health passport through the “Excelsior” pass. The roll-out has been a disaster, though, with journalist Jordan Schachtel describing it as having the “markings of a five alarm dumpster fire.” Out-of-state visitors can’t use it, the app isn’t compatible with older operating systems, and there’s zero user privacy. All that’s needed to look up any New Yorker’s vaccination status or recent coronavirus test results is that person’s first and last name, date of birth, and zip code.

Hawaii is following suit, though. “Dreaming of a trip to Hawaii later this year?” asked Forbes on April 12. “Beginning this summer, fully vaccinated travelers will not have to show a negative Covid-19 test or quarantine.”

This is because “Hawaii Governor David Ige officially gave the green light last Friday for a vaccine passport program that could roll out as early as May for inter-island travel and expand to out-of-state travelers by summer.”

“The Aloha State is reportedly working with the developers of multiple apps — Clear, CommonPass and FirstVitals — to streamline integrating a pre-flight vaccination verification process into the state’s Safe Travels program for travelers arriving by plane to the 50th state. Unvaccinated travelers can also avoid the state’s mandatory quarantine if they upload a negative Covid test administered within 72 hours from the final leg of departure.”

According to Hawaii Travel Guide, “Based on the press conference that Governor Ige’s office held on April 5, 2021, we feel fairly confident that CommonPass and/or CLEAR Health Pass, or a combination of both, will be used by travelers for vaccine verification in Hawaii.”

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker also gushed about vaccine passports in his state.

“I do like the idea, though, that everybody will have with them easily on their device — most people carry their devices with them — some way to show that they’ve been vaccinated,” the governor said.

Orange County, California is developing a digital vaccine passport program.

Free or partially free states: Florida, Texas, Idaho

Meanwhile, states like Florida, Texas, and Idaho are pushing back against vaccine passports.

Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas issued an executive order banning government-mandated vaccine passports in his state. His EO reads in part, “… the Constitution does not empower the federal government to mandate nationwide vaccine passports for COVID-19, and Texas will not impose such vaccine passports with the police power that is reserved to the States … under our system of federalism …”

However, some are criticizing Abbott’s executive order for being “weak” because it does nothing to stop businesses from imposing vaccine passports.

Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida has taken a stronger stance against vaccine passports. DeSantis was actually the first governor to issue an executive order prohibiting businesses, government, and public venues “from demanding proof of Covid-19 vaccination from individuals.”

The Florida governor’s executive order states that “requiring so-called COVID-19 vaccine passports for taking part in everyday life — such as attending a sporting event, patronizing a restaurant, or going to a movie theatre — would create two classes of citizens based on vaccination …”

Gov. Brad Little of Idaho was the third to issue a ban on vaccine passports.

“Idahoans should be given the choice to receive the vaccine,” Little said in a statement. “We should not violate Idahoans’ personal freedoms by requiring them to receive it. Vaccine passports create different classes of citizens.”

State legislators, governors say they want to block or limit vaccine passports

The following states are also considering various measures related to vaccine passports:

  • The Alabama Senate unanimously passed a bill to ban vaccine passports.

  • A GOP state senator in Minnesota introduced a bill to ban vaccine passports there.

  • A Maryland bill would “ban any requirement to show proof of ‘a medical examination, a vaccination, a medical test, or any other medical information’ for employment or travel, and would allow parents to object to a child’s vaccination as a requirement to be admitted to a public school,” as Maryland Matters explained.

  • Pennsylvania Republicans have introduced legislation to ban vaccine passports.

  • A Wisconsin bill would ban vaccine passports.

  • A Wyoming bill would prevent coronavirus vaccines from becoming mandatory.

  • Ohio Republicans have introduced a bill to ban vaccine passports.

  • Republican lawmakers in California are working on legislative measures to ban vaccine passports.

  • Montana lawmakers are advancing measures to ban vaccine passports.

The following governors have spoken about vaccine passports with varying degrees of passion and made varying promises:

  • Gov. Pete Ricketts of Nebraska said: “Nebraska will not participate in any vaccine passport program. This concept violates two central tenets of the American system: freedom of movement and healthcare privacy. Nebraska will take any necessary action to protect the private health information of our citizens and the freedoms we cherish.”

  • South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster tweeted, “Vaccine passports will have no place in South Carolina. The very idea [is] un-American to its core.”

  • Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said the government will not issue vaccine passports and residents will not be forced to take the vaccine.

  • The pro-abortion far-left governor of Pennsylvania, Tom Wolf, downplayed concerns about vaccine passports, saying, “I’m not sure what the deal is with that. If a cruise liner wants to make sure everyone’s safe on a cruise ship, and they want to have some proof of vaccination … I’m not sure why the government would weigh in either way.”

  • Missouri Gov. Mike Parson spoke out strongly against vaccine passports in an interview with FOX.

  • Gov. Kristi Noem of South Dakota tweeted her opposition to vaccine passports on March 29.

  • A spokesman for Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon said: “Wyoming has no plans to require vaccine passports or require participation in a vaccine passport program.”

  • Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) said it was “too soon” to discuss vaccine passports, but wouldn’t rule them out.

  • Earlier this month Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) said: “While I believe in the efficacy of the vaccine enough to get it myself and encourage Iowans to do the same, I also respect that it’s a personal choice. But I strongly oppose vaccine passports, and I believe that we must take a stand as a state against them, which I intend to do either through legislation or executive action. I will also continue to do my part to educate and encourage Iowans about the importance of being vaccinated.”

  • Asa Hutchinson, the governor of Arkansas who former President Trump recently blasted as a “lightweight RINO,” said there won’t be government-issued vaccine passports, but “[i]f an employer wants to have everyone vaccinated in their workplace then they have the prerogative to do that.”