Masks becoming point of friction at legislature
WONDERER -- WONDERFUL OF THEM TO
SHARE THAT WITH US.
>>> WHETHER OR NOT TO WEAR A
FACE COVERING HAS TURNED INTO A
HOT BUTTON POLITICAL ISSUE.
SOME DEMOCRATS ARE CALLING OUT
REPUBLICANS FOR NOT TAKING
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS.
WRAL JOINS US LIVE FROM THE
LEDGE IT LATIVE BUILDING WITH
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING.
LAURA.
>> DESPITE REPEATED ADVICE FROM
THE STATE'S TOP DOCTOR, MOST
LAWMAKERS AND STAFF HERE ARE NOT
WEARING MASKS.
IT IS CAUSING CONFLICT IN BOTH
CHAMBERS.
>> STATE HEALTH SECRETARY MANDY
COHEN TOLD LAWMAKERS THE
EVIDENCE IS GROWING THAT FACE
COVERINGS CAN HELP SLOW THE
SPREAD OF THE CORONAVIRUS MAKING
IT EASIER TO STAY SAFE WHILE
REOPENING THE ECONOMY.
>> THE ONE TOOL WE KNOW -- THAT
LITERATURE IS TELLING US --
IS -- IS --
[ INDISCERNIBLE ]
>> THAT MESSAGE IS FALLING ON A
LOT OF DEAF EARS AT THE
LEGISLATOR.
MOST REPUBLICANS AND STAFF
MEMBERS ARE NOT WEARING MASKS.
MOST DEMOCRATS ARE.
>> WHY ARE NOT WEARING A MAT
MASK?
>> THAT IS THE REPRESENTATIVE
CALLING OUT A GOP COLLEAGUE.
HE NEVER GOT AN ANSWER HE SAYS.
THERE ARE EVEN FEWER SAFE GUARDS
NOW.
THERE IS VERY LITTLE SOCIAL
DISTANCING.
THE SENATOR SAID AS ELECTED
LEADERS, THEY SHOULD FOLLOW THE
SAME GUIDELINES THEY WILL ASKING
OTHERS TO.
>> WE ARE NOT DEMONSTRATING THAT
KIND OF BEHAVIOR HERE.
WE ARE LETTING PEOPLE THINK THIS
IS OVER AND IT IS NOT.
>> IN A LETTER THEY HAVE ASKED
SENATE LEADER TO ENFORCE THE
GUIDELINES.
SHE SAID IT IS COMMON COURTESY
AND DOESN'T UNDERSTAND WHY HAS
BECOME SO POLITICALIZED.
>> THE FACT WE DON'T EVEN TAKE
SIMPLE MEASURES TO KEEP EACH
OTHER SAFE SAYS SOMETHING ABOUT
HOW THE CULTURE HAS CHANGED.
>> WE DID HEAR BUILDING DIRECTOR
PAUL HAS SAID THAT THOSE
TEMPERATURE SCREENINGS WILL
RESUME NEXT WEEK.
HE HAS SAID CORONAVIRUS
PROTECTION MEASURES HERE SO FAR
HAVE COST MORE THAN $1 MILLION.
BACK TO YOU.
>> VERY QUICKLY, HAS THERE BEEN
A DIRECT RESPONSE FROM ANY
REPUBLICAN OF SAYING WHY THEY
WON'T WEAR A MASK?
ARE THEY FEARING IT IS SOME SIGN
OF WEAKNESS TO WEAR A MASK?
>> IT IS NOT CLEAR.
SOME SAY -- THEY ARE AFRAID THEY
WON'T BE HEARD.
WE DON'T SEE THEM WEARING MASKS