It is time to end the pretense it is safe to hold in-person House and Senate committee meetings and sessions.
After the House and Senate held sessions the first week of January, the COVID-19 fallout has followed as several predicted it would.
kAm{2DE H66<[ 2 92=7 5@K6? w@FD6 >6>36CD H6C6 <?@H? E@ 92G6 4@>6 5@H? H:E9 r~'xs\`h 2?5 244@C5:?8 E@ 2 H6==\A=2465 CF>@C[ @?6 $6?2E@C] p?5 E96 A2?56>:4 :D ?@E @?=J 27764E:?8 =2H>2<6CD[ :E 92D E96 A@E6?E:2= E@ :?764E >2?J @E96CD H9@ H2?E E@ A2CE:4:A2E6 :? E96 =68:D=2E:G6 AC@46DD]k^Am
kAm{6E’D C6>6>36C 9@H E9:D EH@\J62C E6C> 3682?i E96 562E9 @7 w@FD6 $A62<6C s:4< w:?49 7C@> r~'xs\`h] $6G6C2= @E96C =2H>2<6CD 2=D@ 925 E96 G:CFD 27E6C ~C82?:K2E:@? s2J[ :?4=F5:?8 @?6 >6>36C H9@ DA6?E >2?J H66<D :? E96 9@DA:E2= @? 2 G6?E:=2E@C]k^Am
kAm{2DE J62C 2== 4@>>:EE66 962C:?8D H6C6 C6>@E6[ H9:=6 E96 $6?2E6 >6E :? DA24:@FD #6AC6D6?E2E:G6D w2== 2?5 E96 w@FD6 >6E @? 2 7@@E32== 7:6=5[ 2?5 :? 2 A2C<:?8 =@E 2?5 2 DA@CED 4@>A=6I]k^Am
kAm}@H H:E9 :?764E:@?D 2E E96:C 9:896DE C2E6D 6G6C[ 2D H6== 2D 9@DA:E2=:K2E:@?D 2?5 562E9D[ w@FD6 2?5 $6?2E6 =6256CD H2?E E@ >66E :?\A6CD@?nk^Am
kAm%96 ?@H 5@>:?2?E ~>:4C@? G2C:2?E >2J 36 2 =:EE=6 =6DD 5625=J E92? E96 @C:8:?2= G:CFD[ 3FE :E :D >2?J E:>6D >@C6 :?764E:@FD[ >62?:?8 >2?J >@C6 A6@A=6 H:== 4@?EC24E E96 :==?6DD 2?5 >@C6 H:== 36 9@DA:E2=:K65 2?5 >@C6 H:== 5:6 2D }6H w2>AD9:C6 2?5 >2?J @E96C DE2E6D 2C6 =62C?:?8]k^Am
kAm{@@< 2E E96 ?F>36CD[ @?6 :? 7:G6 A6@A=6 92G6 925 E96 G:CFD[ 36EE6C E92? @?6 :? `__ 92G6 5:65 W>2?J >@C6 =2E6=JX[ 2?5 E96 G244:?2E:@? C2E6 :D E96 =@H6DE :? E96 }@CE962DE 2?5 23@FE :? E96 >:55=6 7@C E96 4@F?ECJ]k^Am
kAm{2DE H66<[ E96 AF3=:4 =62C?65 D:I w@FD6 >6>36CD 925 366? :?764E65 7C@> E96 =@?8 D6DD:@?D @G6C EH@ 52JD 2E E96 tIA@D:E:@? r6?E6C 2E E96 s@F3=6%C66 w:=E@? :? |2?496DE6C] %96 AF3=:4 5:5 ?@E =62C? E9:D 7C@> w@FD6 =6256CD9:A[ 3FE 7C@> >6>36CD H9@ H6C6 6:E96C D:4<[ @C H9@ 7@CH2C565 =6256CD9:A’D 6>2:= 23@FE :?764E:@?D E@ E96 >65:2]k^Am
kAmr92?46D 2C6[ E96C6 2C6 >2?J >@C6 >6>36CD H:E9 r~'xs\`h] x7 J@F H2E4965 2?J w@FD6 4@>>:EE66 >66E:?8D =2DE H66< J@F 925 E@ ?@E:46 6>AEJ 492:CD H:E9@FE DF3DE:EFE6D]k^Am
kAmp?@E96C 4@>>:EE66 492:C E@=5 9:D 4@==628F6D E9C66 >6>36CD 42==65 E@ E6== 9:> E96J H6C6 D:4< E96 ?:89E 367@C6]k^Am
kAmw@FD6 $A62<6C $96C>2? !24<2C5 92D 366? DE62572DE :? C67FD:?8 E@ :56?E:7J >6>36CD H9@ 92G6 r~'xs\`h[ 6I46AE E@ E6== >6>36CD 6IA@D65 E@ 2? :?764E65 C6AC6D6?E2E:G6]k^Am
kAmw6 H2?ED E@ AC@E64E E96:C AC:G24J[ 3FE H:E9 2 7F== D4965F=6 @7 4@>>:EE66 >66E:?8D 7@C E96 ?6IE >@?E9 @C >@C6[ 2?5 E96 C6BF:C6>6?E E92E A6@A=6 2AA62C :? A6CD@? :7 E96J H2?E E@ E6DE:7J @C A2CE:4:A2E6[ E96C6 2C6 >2?J @E96CD H9@ A@E6?E:2==J 4@F=5 36 :?764E65 36J@?5 =2H>2<6CD] %96 AF3=:4[ =@33J:DED[ DE277[ ;2?:E@CD[ D64FC:EJ 2?5 4276E6C:2 H@C<6CD 4@>6 E@ >:?5 2>@?8 @E96CD]k^Am
kAm|2D<D 2C6 ?@E >2?52E65 2?5 >2?J C6AC6D6?E2E:G6D — >@DE=J #6AF3=:42?D — 5@?’E H62C E96> — 2?5 :E :D :>A@DD:3=6 E@ <?@H :7 E96 A6CD@? D:EE:?8 ?62C J@F :D G244:?2E65 @C ?@E[ @C :7 E96J 2C6 :?764E65]k^Am
kAm%96 $A62<6C’D 42==D E@ DE2J 9@>6 :7 J@F 2C6 D:4< 92G6 ?@E 2=H2JD 366? 7@==@H65 2D >2?J =62C?65 E96 D64@?5 w@FD6 D6DD:@? H96? 32E9C@@> E2=< 2=6CE65 A6@A=6 E@ @?6 >6>36C H9@ E6DE65 A@D:E:G6 E96 ?:89E 367@C6 2?5 H2D 2E E92E D6DD:@?] %92E 5C6H 2 C63F<6 7C@> !24<2C5]k^Am
kAm%@ 9:D 4C65:E[ !24<2C5 DFAA=:65 C2A:5 E6DE <:ED E@ 2== >6>36CD E@ E2<6 367@C6 E96 D6DD:@?D] (96E96C 6G6CJ@?6 4@>A=:65 :D ?@E <?@H? 2?5 E96C6 H2D 2>A=6 DA64F=2E:@? @? D@4:2= >65:2 E92E 2 8@@5 ?F>36C 5:5 ?@E]k^Am
kAm!6@A=6 2C6 364@>:?8 2H2C6 @7 E96 D276EJ 4@?46C?D DFCC@F?5:?8 E96 }6H w2>AD9:C6 v6?6C2= r@FCE]k^Am
kAm%96 ?F>36C @7 A6@A=6 2EE6?5:?8 AF3=:4 962C:?8D 5FC:?8 E96 7:CDE H66< @7 4@>>:EE66 >66E:?8D 2EE6DED E@ E92E]k^Am
kAm%96 $6?2E6 t=64E:@? {2H r@>>:EE66 962C:?8 @? E96 >2AD AC@A@D65 7@C E96 $6?2E6 2?5 tI64FE:G6 r@F?4:=[ 5C6H 2 4@FA=6 5@K6? A6@A=6 — E96J 2== H2?E65 E@ E6DE:7J — 3FE H2D 72C D>2==6C E92? E96 AF3=:4 962C:?8 E96 w@FD6 C65:DEC:4E:?8 4@>>:EE66 96=5 @? :ED AC@A@D65 >2AD]k^Am
kAm{2DE 72==[ 2 962C:?8 @? AC@9:3:E:?8 G244:?2E:@? >2?52E6D AC@5F465 2? @G6C7=@H 4C@H5 :? #6AC6D6?E2E:G6D w2==[ 3FE =2DE H66< E96 4C@H5 H2D G6CJ DA2CD6 @? 2 D:>:=2C 3:==]k^Am
kAm%96 D2>6 H2D ECF6 @7 @E96C 962C:?8D @? 4@?EC@G6CD:2= DF3;64ED H:E9 E96 6I46AE:@? 36:?8 EH@ 3:==D E@ C6BF:C6 A2A6C 32==@ED 7@C 2== 6=64E:@?D 2?5 @FE=2H:?8 G@E:?8 >249:?6D]k^Am
kAm%96J 5C6H 2 4C@H5 4@?46C?65 23@FE 6=64E:@? 7C2F5[ D@>6E9:?8 E92E 92D J6E E@ 92AA6? :? 2?J :>A24E7F= ?F>36C]k^Am
kAm|2J36 E96 w@FD6 2?5 $6?2E6 =6256CD9:A 2C6 D2E:D7:65 H:E9 E96 AF3=:4 EFC?@FE[ 3FE :E :D ?@E 6G6? 4=@D6 E@ H92E :E H2D @? C6>@E6 962C:?8D =2DE J62C] %96 EFC?@FE H2D 6?@C>@FD 2?5 @G6C +@@> H9:49 :D >F49 62D:6C E@ 7@==@H E92? E9:D J62C’D *@F%F36 4@>>:EE66 DEC62>:?8]k^Am
kAm%@@ @7E6?[ >:4C@A9@?6D 2C6 ?@E EFC?65 @? 367@C6 DA62<:?8[ @C 2 =2H>2<6C :D E@@ 72C 2H2J 2?5 5:77:4F=E E@ 962C[ 2?5 >2?J A6@A=6 5@ ?@E :56?E:7J E96>D6=G6D H96? E96J E6DE:7J]k^Am
kAmxE :D ?@E 2? :562= D:EF2E:@? — 36EE6C E92? 92G:?8 E@ 2EE6?5 :?\A6CD@? — 3FE ?@E 2D D:>A=6 2?5 62DJ 2D :E H2D H:E9 +@@> =2DE J62C 2?5 E96 J62C 367@C6]k^Am
kAms6>@4C2ED 2?5 D@>6 #6AF3=:42?D 92G6 D@F89E C6>@E6 2446DD E@ D6DD:@?D 2?5 4@>>:EE66 >66E:?8D[ 3FE E@ 52E6 92G6 366? F?DF446DD7F= :? 4@?G:?4:?8 !24<2C5 E@ 492?86 9:D >:?5]k^Am
kAmp ?F>36C @7 2E\C:D< s6>@4C2ED DF65 :? &]$] s:DEC:4E r@FCE D66<:?8 C6>@E6 2446DD 367@C6 =2DE J62C’D D6DD:@? 3682?[ 3FE E96 4@FCE D:565 H:E9 !24<2C5]k^Am
kAm%96 `DE r:C4F:E r@FCE @7 pAA62=D @G6CEFC?65 E96 564:D:@?[ !24<2C5 D@F89E 2 C6962C:?8[ H9:49 H2D 8C2?E65 2?5 96=5[ 3FE 2 564:D:@? 92D ?@E 366? C6=62D65]k^Am
kAm!24<2C5 >2:?E2:?D E96 w@FD6 ?665D 2 CF=6 492?86 E@ 9@=5 C6>@E6 D6DD:@?D[ 2=E9@F89 E96 $FAC6>6 r@FCE D2:5 :? 2 CF=:?8 EH@ J62CD 28@[ 2 BF@CF> 4@F=5 36 AC6D6?E C6>@E6=J]k^Am
kAm%96 w@FD6 92D G@E65 5@H? E92E CF=6 492?86 7@FC E:>6D[ >@DE C646?E=J 5FC:?8 E96 7:CDE D6DD:@? E9:D J62C y2?] d]k^Am
kAm~E96CD 4=2:> >66E:?8 C6>@E6=J 4@?EC:3FE6D E@ A2CE:D2? E6?D:@?D[ 5:G:D:@?D 2?5 =6DD 4@?86?:2=:EJ E92? :? E96 A2DE[ 3FE E92E :D 82D=:89E:?8 2E 36DE]k^Am
kAm!24<2C5 2?5 @E96CD 92G6 2C8F65 E96 E649?@=@8J :D 5:77:4F=E E@ :>A=6>6?E H:E9 E96 ?F>36C @7 w@FD6 >6>36CD[ 3FE E92E :D ?@E 2? :DDF6 7@C >2?J =68:D=2EFC6D]k^Am
kAm~E96CD 2C6 ?@E 9@=5:?8 :?\A6CD@? D6DD:@?D 2?5 4@>>:EE66 >66E:?8D 3642FD6 @7 E96 C64@C5 DFC86 :? r~'xs\`h[ :?4=F5:?8 24C@DD E96 r@??64E:4FE #:G6C :? '6C>@?E[ H9:49 3682? E96 7:CDE EH@ H66<D @7 :ED D6DD:@? C6>@E6=J]k^Am
kAm%96 '6C>@?E $6?2E6 H:== C6>2:? :? C6>@E6 D6DD:@?D F?E:= u63] ad[ H9:=6 :ED CF=6D 4@>>:EE66 >66ED H66<=J E@ 56E6C>:?6 :7 2 492?86 :D ?66565]k^Am
kAm%96 '6C>@?E w@FD6 G@E65 =2DE H66< E@ 2==@H :?\A6CD@? 4@>>:EE66 >66E:?8D F?E:= u63] `[ 2E H9:49 E:>6 :E H:== C66G2=F2E6[ 3FE 2=D@ 2==@H C6>@E6 2446DD 7@C C6AC6D6?E2E:G6D H9@ 5@ ?@E 766= :E :D D276 C6EFC?:?8 E@ :?\A6CD@? >66E:?8D]k^Am
kAm%96 '6C>@?E =68:D=2EFC6 2=D@ E:89E6?65 r~'xs\`h AC@E@4@=D 2E :ED $E2E6 w@FD6 4@>A=6I[ C6BF:C:?8 >2D<D[ H9:49 2C6 @776C65 7C66 2E E96 5@@C[ 2?5 E92E 4=@E9 >2D<D 2C6 :?DF77:4:6?E]k^Am
kAm'6C>@?E =2H>2<6CD 92G6 EH@ C2A:5 E6DED E@ 36 E2<6? 6249 H66<[ 2?5 F?G244:?2E65 =68:D=2E@CD 2C6 C6BF:C65 E@ E2<6 2 !r# E6DE H66<=J]k^Am
kAm%92E H@F=5 C6BF:C6 >F49 >@C6 :?7@C>2E:@? E92? !24<2C5 92D C6BF:C65 @7 w@FD6 >6>36CD]k^Am
kAmxE :D ?@ D64C6E r~'xs\`h :D 2 A2CE:D2? :DDF6 2?5 :E ?6G6C D9@F=5 92G6 366?[ 6G6CJ@?6 D9@F=5 AF== :? E96 D2>6 5:C64E:@? :7 :E :D 6G6C E@ 36 :? E96 C62C G:6H >:CC@C]k^Am
kAmx? }6H w2>AD9:C6 :E 92D 2=D@ 366? 2 =68:D=2E:G6 DEC2E68J]k^Am
kAm%96 w@FD6 v~! >2;@C:EJ 92D 2 G6CJ D=:> >2;@C:EJ 2?5 :7 2 5@K6? @C D@ s6>@4C2ED H:E9 D6C:@FD 962=E9 C:D<D DE2J 9@>6[ E96C6 :D =6DD 492?46 @7 2 76H #6AF3=:42?D ;@:?:?8 s6>@4C2ED @? 2? :DDF6 2?5 FA6?5:?8 E96 82>6 A=2?]k^Am
kAmqFE E92E 5@6D ?@E 255C6DD E96 :DDF6 7@C A6@A=6 H9@ H2?E E@ A2CE:4:A2E6 :? E96:C 8@G6C?>6?E 3FE 2C6 27C2:5 E@ 8@ E@ E96 $E2E6 w@FD6 @C {68:D=2E:G6 ~77:46 qF:=5:?8 5F6 E@ r~'xs\`h 6IA@DFC6]k^Am
kAm%96 C@@>D >2J 36 5@F3=6 2?5 2:C AFC:7:6CD AC6D6?E[ 3FE E96C6 :D E@@ >F49 C:D< 7@C >2?J A6@A=6 H:E9 >2D<=6DD =2H>2<6CD 2?5 >2?J @A6?=J 2?E:\G244:?6]k^Am
kAmp 8C@FA @7 962=E9\42C6 AC@G:56CD HC@E6 E96 =68:D=2E:G6 =6256CD9:A EH:46 :? C646?E H66<D FC8:?8 C6>@E6 2446DD] %96J E@=5 =6256CD9:A :E :D E:>6 E@ C6E9:?< E96 962=E9 6?G:C@?>6?E :? E96 r2A:E@=]k^Am
kAm%96 DFA6C\DAC6256C 6G6?E E96J 762C >2J @?=J 92G6 27764E65 =2H>2<6CD E9:D E:>6[ 3FE :E >2J 36 >F49 H@CD6 :? E96 7FEFC6 6?4@>A2DD:?8 E96 AF3=:4[ DE277 2?5 @E96CD]k^Am
kAm%96 =6256CD9:A 92D 366? A=2J:?8 H:E9 7:C6 D:?46 E9:D EH@\J62C E6C> 3682? 2?5 =2DE H66< E96 7:C6 :8?:E65 2?5 E9C62E6?D E@ 8C@H 9@EE6C]k^Am
kAmk6>m'6E6C2? ;@FC?2=:DE v2CCJ #2J?@ 6IA=@C6D 2 3C@256C A6CDA64E:G6 @? E96 $E2E6 w@FD6 2?5 DE2E6 92AA6?:?8D 7@C k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^x?s6AE9}w]@C8Qmx?s6AE9}w]@C8k^2m] w6 :D 2 }6H w2>AD9:C6 !C6DD pDD@4:2E:@? {:76E:>6 p49:6G6>6?E pH2C5 H:??6C]k^6>mk^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.