Pa. lawmakers plan to meet this week despite coronavirus concerns
HARRISBURG — Despite calls from lawmakers to close the state Capitol amid coronavirus fears, the Pennsylvania Legislature’s session will go on as planned beginning Monday.
Late Saturday night, Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati, R-Jefferson, and Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman, R-Centre, issued this statement regarding the Senate: “The Senate will not convene for session on Monday, March 16. The Senate will be on a 12hour-call. At this time, we plan to be in session on Tuesday and Wednesday [March 17 & 18].
“We remain committed to working with the Governor and House Leaders to address the needs of our Commonwealth due to COVID-19. Protecting public health continues to be our top priority.”
Starting Friday, all public events in the Capitol were canceled until further notice, state officials said. That includes tours, school field trips and rallies.
Some lawmakers were bristling at having to convene in Harrisburg, even as Gov. Tom Wolf encouraged suspending gatherings with more than 250 people.
More than 250 lawmakers are in the Capitol, and the Legislature employs hundreds of staffers on top of that.
“Reconvening the #PAHouse for legislative session next week is an aggressively bad idea,” state Rep. Chris Rabb, D-Philadelphia, tweeted Thursday.
Some legislators have said privately that they want to convene so they can pass bills related to the coronavirus’s rapid spread. Already, several lawmakers have circulated bills to address everything from ensuring that the public can vote safely in elections to suspending testing in public schools in the midst of the public health crisis.
On the Senate side, lawmakers are making plans should lawmakers need to work remotely.
“In the event of a closure or quarantine, we have taken measures to ensure that essential staff and senators will be able to work remotely and continue all core functions of the Senate,” said Brittany Crampsie, a spokesperson for Democrats in the chamber.
Five senators instructed their staff to work remotely as of late last week, she said, including lawmakers from Philadelphia, Bucks, Montgomery and Delaware counties — all areas with at least one COVID-19 infection.
All state employees who work or live in Montgomery County have been told to work from home, Mr. Wolf said Thursday.
The House is communicating with other state agencies to monitor the situation and “working to ensure every decision we make is in the best interest of public health,” said Mike Straub, spokesperson for House Majority Leader Bryan Cutler, RLancaster.
“At this time, we have not made any changes to session schedule, or for policies regarding our members and district staff,” Mr. Straub said.
House members cannot vote remotely, but they can place themselves on leave if they think it is necessary, Mr. Straub added. Senators can still cast votes on bills even when they aren’t in the Capitol — they have to take what is called “legislative leave,” meaning they are working in their districts or are traveling between Harrisburg and their district.
Bill Patton, a spokesperson for House Democrats, said he looks forward to Monday’s session, when Philadelphia special election winner Roni Green will be sworn in as a representative.
“House leaders are monitoring developments and asking legislators, staff and Capitol visitors to follow the Department of Health’s guidance, notably on washing hands,” he said.