Shot silence should put reps on the sidelines

At a time when the national focus remains on convincing vaccination fence-sitters to get inoculated against COVID-19, a few of our state lawmakers have decided to take a stand against vaccine mandates.

In a state where 75% of those eligible are fully vaccinated, some unnamed House members don’t see the need to declare their vaccination status, and apparently are willing to put the well-being of other State House lawmakers and staff at risk in the process.

That’s the conundrum House Speaker Ronald Mariano faces as he ponders what COVID protocols to put in place, as he and Senate President Karen Spilka work to return lawmakers to in-person sessions.

Spilka, an Ashland Democrat who participated in Monday’s leadership meeting with Mariano and Gov. Charlie Baker, has already told all senators and staff they must show proof they are fully vaccinated by Oct. 15.

Mariano, a Quincy Democrat who described himself as “the CEO for 500 people who are going to come into this building,” indicated that he doesn’t feel comfortable asking all legislators to return to in-person deliberations until leaders find a way to manage these few obstructionists.

That could further delay the timetable for reopening the State House, which has remained closed to the public for a year and a half.

While those opposed to vaccine mandates haven’t be identified, they’re likely among the legislators who signed onto a bill recently filed by state Rep. Peter Durant.

That legislation filed by the Spencer Republican would ban government buildings, schools and businesses from requiring vaccination against COVID-19 as a condition of entry. Durant said his bill also would apply to private employers as well as public offices.

Durant told the State House News Service that though vaccinated, he believes COVID-19 vaccine mandates are a “knee-jerk” reaction, arguing instead that every individual should make that choice for themselves.

Asked about colleagues who may be immunocompromised, Durant replied that those lawmakers should opt to “stay home.”

Twelve other reps co-sponsored Durant’s bill: Republicans David DeCoste of Norwell, Shawn Dooley of Norfolk, Joseph McKenna of Webster, Marc Lombardo of Billerica, Susan Gifford of Wareham, Timothy Whelan of Brewster, Donald Berthiaume of Spencer, Alyson Sullivan of Abington, Mathew Muratore of Plymouth, and Steven Xiarhos of Barnstable, as well as Democrats Colleen Garry of Dracut and Jeffrey Turco of Winthrop.

Sullivan also filed a bill that would ban COVID-19 vaccine passports, prevent any public employee from being terminated for not getting vaccinated, and require all public facilities and services to be fully accessible to those not vaccinated.

We can only deduce that this group seeks to push the state GOP into further irrelevancy.

Baker, the de-facto head of the Republican Party, ordered about 42,000 state employees in August to get fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or secure an exemption.

Both Durant’s and Sullivan’s bills are going nowhere, as they’re fully aware. Accounting for 30 of the 160member House and three of the 40-member Senate, Republicans wield negligible influence.

And as for dealing with these vaccination declaration objectors, we suggest Mariano employ Durant’s suggestion for immunitycompromised colleagues:

Tell them to stay home, so the majority of lawmakers can get back to business on Beacon Hill.