Nineteen Indiana House lawmakers – led by Rep. Jim Lucas (R-Seymour) – want the governor to stop Indiana University from mandating students, faculty and staff receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

The group of GOP lawmakers sent a letter to Gov. Eric Holcomb Tuesday. In it, they say students will drop classes, be ostracized from campus and employees will be fired if IU is allowed to mandate the vaccine.

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The legislators also point out the vaccine has not been fully approved by the FDA – it is under emergency use authorization.

The House lawmakers want Holcomb to use his executive power to stop IU from mandating the vaccine. Many of those same lawmakers have decried the governor’s use of executive authority throughout the pandemic.

The 19 lawmakers are Rep. Beau Baird (R-Greencastle), Rep. Stephen Bartels (R-Eckerty), Rep. Martin Carbaugh (R-Fort Wayne), Rep. Sean Eberhart (R-Shelbyville), Rep. Bob Heaton (R-Terre Haute), Rep. Matt Hostetler (R-Fort Branch), Rep. John Jacob (R-Indianapolis), Rep. Chris Judy (R-Fort Wayne), Rep. Cindy Ledbetter (R-Chandler), Rep. Jim Lucas (R-Seymour), Rep. Shane Lindauer (R-Jasper), Rep. Chris May (R-Bedford), Rep. Peggy Mayfield (R-Martinsville), Rep. Bob Morris (R-Fort Wayne), Rep. Curt Nisly (R-Milford), Rep. J.D. Prescott (R-Union City), Rep. Hal Slager (R-Dyer), Rep. Heath VanNatter (R-Kokomo) and Rep. Denny Zent (R-Angola).

Contact reporter Brandon at bsmith@ipbs.org or follow him on Twitter at @brandonjsmith5.