Lexington Herald-Leader: KY House Democrats ‘outraged’ after new Republican members go maskless in Capitol
KDP Statement On New Legislative Members Refusing to Wear Masks at Orientation, GOP Leadership’s Unacceptable Response
The following is a statement from Colmon Elridge, Chair of the Kentucky Democratic Party:
Yesterday, Republican legislators blatantly put the health of their colleagues and other public servants at risk by refusing to wear masks during orientation despite being asked to do so. It was disappointing to see Senator Stivers attempt to publicly undermine the importance of mask-wearing and trivialize a pandemic that has taken the lives of more than 2,000 Kentuckians. The election is over, but the pandemic is still raging. Kentucky Republicans need to stop the grandstanding and start acting like the leaders Kentuckians deserve.
Thanks to Jeff Wiggins for sending us this story.
By DANIEL DESROCHERS
Democrats in the Kentucky House of Representatives were “outraged” after several newly-elected Republican members refused to wear masks during an orientation session Thursday.
“I was stunned to see most of my fellow incoming legislators not wearing masks, and I was saddened when none of them complied after being asked by LRC staff to wear one,” said Rep. Rachel Roberts, D-Newport. “I help care for a parent who is immunosuppressed, and by being in this room, I now have to stay away from him at least a week and be tested.”
Kentucky is in the midst of a surge of COVID-19 — there have been more cases of the virus in the first three days in December than there were in May and June combined — yet there has been resistance to following an executive order that requires people to wear masks. Masks, when properly worn, are scientifically proven to limit the spread of the disease.