A number of Republican legislators were part of a committee meeting in Frankfort on Tuesday, and didn’t wear masks. They then published photos via Twitter of the meeting.
The Government Contract Review Committee, co-chaired by @slmeredithky1, is meeting this morning in Frankfort! Follow along at https://t.co/JwoNlQAW1P #kyga20 #kyinterim pic.twitter.com/vmbKfJG37t
— KY Senate Majority (@KYSenateGOP) July 14, 2020
Joe Sonka, a reporter for the Courier-Journal who was covering the meeting, noticed.
A day after a state senator announces he tested positive for COVID-19, legislators are still not wearing masks in committee this morning. #kyga20 https://t.co/dfIVOWp6U8
— Joe Sonka 😐 (@joesonka) July 14, 2020
What's notable here is these 3 legislators represent some of Kentucky's hottest COVID-19 hot spot counties, in terms of per capita 7-day rolling average of new cases. Hornback (1. Carroll, 3. Shelby, 11. Trimble), Lee (14. Fayette) and Fugate (17. Perry) pic.twitter.com/0c2u1LaLog
— Joe Sonka 😐 (@joesonka) July 14, 2020
Democratic response
Later in the day, the Democratic leadership in the House and the Senate released this statement:
The following joint statement is from House and Senate Democratic Leadership. Those include House Democratic Leader Joni Jenkins, Caucus Chair Derrick Graham and Caucus Whip Angie Hatton and Senate Democratic Leader Morgan McGarvey, Caucus Chair Johnny Ray Turner and Caucus Whip Dennis Parrett.
“We are dismayed and disheartened by the fact no legislator was wearing a mask during the Government Contract Review Committee hearing less than 24 hours after one of our colleagues announced he had tested positive for coronavirus. The continued refusal of legislators to take precautions and wear a mask puts themselves and others at risk. We are calling on House and Senate leaders to require masks during committee meetings and when interacting with legislative staff. Given the circumstances, such a request shouldn’t be necessary, but given the behavior we’ve seen, it is clear we have no other choice.”
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