The state House gavels in at 9 AM Monday but Baton Rouge Representative Ted James will not be present. James was hospitalized with COVID-19 and pneumonia a month ago and says the House chamber is not a safe environment.
“If I am in a room with 104 people I might freak out because mentally I am just not there yet and maybe in June if we did a special session I would feel differently but for me it is a real challenge,” says James.
James has since recovered but noted there’s no confirmation currently that those who’ve caught the virus once can’t be reinfected.
Legislative leaders say there’s important work to get done over the next month and the Governor calls lawmakers essential workers but James disagrees.
“We have not been there in a month and things are still rolling, right? So don’t say that we are essential beacuse it really takes away from the folks that are out there,” says James.
The regular session ends June 1st and lawmakers have until July 1st to pass a budget.
James says if the session must go on legislative leaders need to ensure the only items seeing daylight are the budget, COVID-related bills, or essential business.
“Not these controversial bills that are going to lure a number of people from the public to come and testify because I don’t want to put them in danger,” says James.
Legislative leaders say they’ve taken steps to prevent coronavirus transmission like temperature checks at the Capitol door and plexiglas dividers between desks on the House floor.
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