Assembly Democrats are demanding legislators be allowed to attend floor sessions and other meetings remotely as Republicans signal they will require lawmakers to conduct much of their business in person during the upcoming legislative session, even as the coronavirus pandemic persists into 2021.
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, indicated on Tuesday that the Assembly may no longer allow remote accommodations, representing a rollback of COVID-19 accommodations allowed during much of the pandemic.
“People all across Wisconsin safely go to work every day and members of the Assembly are capable of doing so as well,” he said in a statement. “The Assembly will convene safely as other legislatures across the country have done during the pandemic. Members and staff are being asked to follow CDC guidelines, practice social distancing, wear a mask and wash their hands frequently.”
Assembly Minority Leader Gordon Hintz, D-Oshkosh, and other Democratic members told Vos on Tuesday they want the chamber to continue current Assembly accommodations into the next session, such as remote-work options for staff and the ability for lawmakers to join floor sessions and committee hearings and sessions virtually.
First, Vos is right. People all over the state are going to work every day. They are doing so safely. We pay these legislators a full time wage and we, as citizens, have a reasonable expectation for them to put on pants and go to work. Perhaps they should lead by example for the rest of the state.
Second, there is value in doing this in person. Many of us have shifted to a more virtual work style through 2020. There are some good sides like saving on clothes/commuting expenses, save time between meetings, can squeeze more work into the day with that time savings, etc, but we also lose a lot without conducting business in person. Those hallway chats can be productive. Eating lunch together or helping a colleague dig their car out of the snow develops relationships. The infamous “grab a drink after work” builds rapport. Being able to read someone’s body language helps facilitate understanding. Humans are natural social animals and conducting complex negotiations successfully requires all of the senses to do it successfully. By being virtual, the Assembly is robbed of the social dynamic and people retreat into their virtual castles of dogma. The isolation of a virtual environment promotes distrust, linear thinking, and fear. Working with people on a screen is not the same as doing it in person. They become avatars instead of people.
These people are making massive decisions that impact the lives of millions. It is not asking too much for them to go to work to conduct the business of the realm.
I’m not going to insult the Dems’ intentions by sticking the “(Un)” in front of “Intended consequences”.
Why are liberals such scaredy cats? Do not they have a backbone or do they just run and hide?
If they don’t show up, then no salary and certainly, no per diems.
Mar, they aren’t scaredy cats, They have just spent a lot of capital on the pandemic hype, and they have to keep appearances up in public. It will be seen as a sham if they don’t get their 100 days at home, or stop trying to convince their voters that Covid is the most deadly thing since WWII.
Never mind that by the numbers, influenza is all but cured and heart disease and cancer are way down last year, there is nothing to see there, just ask Le Roi. They have to keep the charade going or all the fence voters will leave their party and maybe even some Dems a bit more resistant to programming.
Regardless of the pandemic, I don’t see a problem with our legislature working remote. I would rather have my representation close to home and it’s constituents than in Madison a majority of the time.
There is a benefit to being in person, and if someone wanted to, I wouldn’t blame them. But I don’t think it should be a requirement.
Learn to adjust to today’s modern environment. If the people feel that their representation isn’t working out for them, then they can vote someone out. But frankly, I don’t care WHERE the voting happens.
Tuerqas has it, spot-in.
JonnyV, when did you last see your Leggie in person while in the district? Seriously, is being nearby going to influence his/her/its vote?