It’s globally accepted that face coverings help slow the spread of COVID-19, but Indiana lawmakers still aren’t required to wear them inside the Statehouse.
On Organization Day last week, legislators converged on the floor for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic swept the country in March. Officials were sworn in, and the leaders of each chamber gave remarks on the floor.
The in-person meeting kicked off the upcoming four-month legislative session that starts in January.
Lawmakers will grapple with key issues in 2021; and the pandemic took center stage in more ways than one during the meeting.
On Nov. 12, a joint House-Senate committee voted against a proposal to require lawmakers to wear masks while in the Statehouse.
While almost every lawmaker wore masks on Organization Day, at minimum two members of the House refrained — Rep. John Jacob, R-Indianapolis, and Rep. Curt Nisly, R-Milford.
Not only did the pair abstain from mask usage, they filed a resolution to end the public health emergency enacted by Gov. Eric Holcomb.
Thankfully, the House ignored the request. Unfortunately, a separate motion to require masks in the Statehouse was shut down by a 64-28 vote.
The Indiana General Assembly consists of 100 representatives and 50 senators. Additionally, staffers and media were present that day.
The current order by Holcomb requires that face masks be worn during indoor social gatherings. Additionally, businesses can now be fined or shut down if they don’t enforce mask usage.
Indiana is shattering records for new COVID-19 cases, deaths, and hospitalizations weekly. The same day as the meeting, a record 84 Hoosiers died with the virus.
For many of those lawmakers, the districts they represent are facing major challenges as hospitals have become inundated with COVID-19 patients.
Science has proven that masks can significantly help slow the spread of COVID-19, and it’s unfortunate that some lawmakers feel they shouldn’t have to follow the same rules as their fellow citizens.
Despite almost all of its workings moved to an online format for next year, the legislature needs to revise its policy and require masks inside the Statehouse.
The current stance by the House sends the wrong message and could lead to future events turning into superspreader meetings.
If suits and ties are required by lawmakers while they’re on the floor, having a mask mandate shouldn’t be an issue.
