CLEVELAND — A federal mandate could go into effect Jan. 10 that would make large businesses require employees to either get a COVID-19 vaccine or comply with COVID-19 testing, but Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and 26 other attorneys argued against the mandate Friday in front of the U.S. Supreme Court.

For more than two hours, the court heard oral arguments on a Biden Administration mandate that will force businesses with 100 or more employees to mandate vaccines or testing and require health care workers to be vaccinated.

Yost, his fellow attorneys general and business groups argued the president has no right to issue the mandates, and argued for the court to issue and stay.

"This is a case about the law and the law here is important," said Yost. "It's not about what the best course of action is, that's for the policy branches of our government to decide."

Ohio business owner Clara Osterhage is just one business owner who does not want to see the federal mandate go into effect. She said it will hurt her business.

"I know for a fact I have many of my employees who have said to me that my complying with the mandate will force them to go look elsewhere for a position," said Osterhage.

Clara Osterhage

Ohio Solicitor General Benjamin Flowers also presented an argument, but virtually from Washington, D.C.

The attorneys general maintained the Occupational Safety and Health Administration was not given legal, unlimited power to require workers to be vaccinated. Yost said he encourages everyone to get vaccinated, but ultimately, the choice is up to them.

"I hope everybody gets vaccinated. I'm vaccinated," said Yost. "But if somebody elects not to and they get sick or die, that is not my fault. That is a consequence of their choice to fail to protect themselves, which is why I urge everyone to get the vaccine. But the government doesn't have the power to do any good thing."

It's not clear when the Supreme Court will issue a decision