LANSING, Mich. — Sen. Mallory McMorrow (D-Royal Oak), who created and promoted the #MaskUpMichigan campaign on social media, has issued the following statement on Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II’s call to Republican leadership to require masks be worn by legislators at the State Capitol:
“The lieutenant governor is absolutely right that we must take mask-wearing seriously at the State Capitol. In both chambers, there have been legislators and staffers who tested positive for COVID-19, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control has confirmed the virus can be spread through the air, with particles lingering for ‘minutes or hours.’ Especially given the fact that the Legislature does not allow for remote meetings or voting, a mask mandate in the Capitol is just common sense to ensure we not only keep legislators and staff safe, but that we can continue our work to represent our districts, without interruption, for the people who rely on us.
“The Senate Majority Leader has, for months, said that we need to ‘learn to live with the virus.’ The overwhelming scientific consensus is that widespread masking is one of the most powerful tools we have to contain the spread of COVID-19 to keep ourselves and others safe, keep our public spaces and businesses open, and indeed to live with this virus until a vaccine or treatment is widely available.”
In April, Sen. McMorrow offered SJR O, a joint resolution to encourage the legislature to meet remotely during certain states of emergency, as other states have, during the pandemic. It was immediately referred to the Senate Government Operations Committee, where no action has been taken.
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