Wearing a mask has been a somewhat partisan matter at the General Assembly
WE LET YOU KNOW
>>> STATE HEALTH LEADERS
TELLING US FOR WEEKS TO SOCIAL
DISTANCE AND WEAR MASKS IN
PUBLIC.
MANY STATE LAWMAKERS DO NOT
SEEM TO FOLLOW THAT ADVICE.
LOWER LESLEY IS LIVE AT THE
LEGISLATURE WITH THE STORY.
>> Reporter: GATHERING SEVERAL
HUNDRED PEOPLE TOGETHER FOR
DAYS ON END, ABOUT THE LAST
THING WE ARE ADVISED TO DO
RIGHT NOW BUT THE LEGISLATURE
HAS TO HOLD SESSION TO PASS NEW
LAWS.
HERE IS A LOOK AND WHAT THEY
ARE DOING AND NOT DOING TO STAY
SAFE.
THERE ARE PRECAUTIONS WHEN YOU
ENTER INCLUDING TEMPERATURE
CHECKS.
ONCE YOU ARE IN THE BUILDING,
THERE IS NOT A LOT YOU CAN DO.
THIS WAS BUILT NEARLY 60 YEARS
AGO AND IT'S NOT DESIGNED FOR
SOCIAL DISTANCING.
YOU CAN SEE HOW NARROW THE
HALLWAYS ARE.
THOSE ARE TINY TOO.
THE ELEVATORS ARE NOT A LOT
BETTER.
>> ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE LET US
KNOW.
>> LAWMAKERS AND STAFF ALMOST A
TON OF EACH OTHER AND COMMITTEE
ROOMS.
THE CHAMBERS SAY ONLY ABOUT
THREE FEET APART.
SENATOR HARRY BROWN TRYING TO
SPACE OUT WHERE THEY CAN.
>> NO WAY TO AVOID TO BE CLOSE
TO SOMEBODY EVENTUALLY.
BUT, I THINK PEOPLE ARE TRYING
TO BE AS CAUTIOUS AS THEY CAN,
AS RESPECTFUL AS THEY CAN TO
SOMEONE ELSE.
>> Reporter: WHEN MASKS ARE
RECOMMENDED BUT NOT REQUIRED.
THE SESSIONS STARTED THERE WAS
A CLEAR PART OF ALL THE
DEMOCRATS WEARING THEM BUT VERY
FEW REPUBLICANS.
THESE DAYS, IT'S MORE
BIPARTISAN ALTHOUGH MANY
REPUBLICANS STILL DO NOT WEAR
THEM, BROWN SAYS THAT IS MORE
ABOUT THE INDIVIDUAL COMFORT
LEVEL THAT ABOUT PARTY.
>> I HAVE IN MY POCKET AS WELL.
SO, IF I IN THE CROWD OR I FEEL
LIKE I NEED TO I WEAR MY.
I THINK IT'S UP TO THE
INDIVIDUAL .
>> Reporter: WHILE THE KITCHEN
AND HOUSEKEEPING STAFF WEAR
MASKS MOST ALLEGEDLY OF
STAFFERS AND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
POLICE DO NOT.
SENATOR JAY CHAUDHARY SAYS AS
LONG AS THEY ARE IN HERE
TOGETHER, MASKS OUGHT TO BE
REQUIRED FOR EVERYBODY.
>> NOT ONLY FOR PUBLIC HEALTH
BUT THE HEALTH OF OTHER STATES.
>> Reporter: HOUSE LEADERS
ACTUALLY ARE HOLDING REMOTE
VIDEOCONFERENCE MEETINGS AND
EVEN ALLOWING EPOXY TO MAINTAIN
SOCIAL DISTANCING WHERE WE HAVE
MORE PEOPLE.
THE SENATE SHOULD FOLLOW SUIT
TO COME DOWN ON THE NUMBER OF