House starts slowly bringing back staff
Tuesday, May 5, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Subscribers got the full memo yesterday. Here’s Ben Orner at Capitol News Illinois…
The Illinois House is taking the first steps to reopening its Capitol operations during the coronavirus pandemic.
A memo from Jessica Basham, chief of staff to House Speaker Michael Madigan, said that while staff have been working remotely for several weeks “there are certain functions that were not able to be performed while physically absent from the buildings.”
“Starting this week, about 30 staff are being directed to come into the office, with not more than about 10 staff in on a given day,” she wrote. “Most staff members will be in the office 4 hours or less per week, and no one is expected to be in more than 10 hours per week. Social distancing will be maintained at all times, and a cloth face covering will be provided to each employee.”
The Senate has had a skeleton crew operating throughout the recess.
* Meanwhile…
State Rep. Margo McDermed joined her colleagues in a letter asking Gov. JB Pritzker to call a special legislative session to work on opening up the state amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.
The House members said Pritzker should call the special session if House and Senate leadership “continue to refuse” to allow the Legislature to meet, according to the letter.
* And…
A draft version of guidance [for reconvening the GA] from the Illinois Department of Public Health obtained by the Chicago Tribune suggests attendance at future meetings be limited to state employees. Members of the public, including lobbyists and witnesses, can communicate electronically, with only legislators present for votes.
State police should screen everyone entering for signs of a fever and regularly sanitize all commonly touched surfaces. The guidance also suggests lawmakers 65 and over should consider avoiding traveling to Springfield for the session. Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan is 78.
“The priority is safety for everybody concerned,” Madigan’s spokesperson told the Tribune. “I don’t think there’s anything new as it relates to anything that would approach a timetable.”
Thoughts?
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, May 5, 20 @ 10:31 am:
I’m confused.
The GOP won’t to go after Speaker Madigan.
Why not have ALL the HRaunerites get together, socially distanced, in a parking lot or something, and at a podium they all demand Speaker Madigan call them back?
What an interesting look. All 44 members, 6-10 feet apart, in a parking lot… with a podium… asking 74 more people should come together…
This reconvening needs to be thoughtful, and the safety of all members, the families, anyone they get in contact with…
There needs to be a thoughtful way, not a “write a letter and complain” way.
- Ray Gun - Tuesday, May 5, 20 @ 10:37 am:
Signs of life.
- Tynie - Tuesday, May 5, 20 @ 10:40 am:
===The guidance also suggests lawmakers 65 and over should consider avoiding traveling to Springfield for the session. Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan is 78.===
I got this straight from the post, and it left me genuinely curious. Would having younger Legislative members divide focus groups up into who appears to vote and who communicates through stuff like Zoom, FaceTime, or even Google Duo work?
- Pius - Tuesday, May 5, 20 @ 10:41 am:
How many GA members are over 65?
- fs - Tuesday, May 5, 20 @ 10:43 am:
Eventually the leaders are going to have to agree to some structure and procedure. Things need to be done, even just emergency things. The general assembly has a responsibility to represent their constituents, and it’s not to just cede all and every type of authority and responsibility to the executive branch. Politically it might seem smart now, but it’s a bad precedent, and it’s starting to feel more cowardly than anything as time goes on. Not even the refusing to meet, but more so the almost complete radio silence.
Also, why would the State Police be doing screening and sanitizing of the State Capitol? Last i checked that was the Secretary of State.
- PJ - Tuesday, May 5, 20 @ 10:45 am:
==How many GA members are over 65?==
Lots but if I recall quorum is just 50% of members. At least half are under 65, I think
- Just Me 2 - Tuesday, May 5, 20 @ 10:45 am:
If you live in a district represented by someone older than 65, then I guess you don’t get to be represented. That is not acceptable. Another way has to be figured out, and if it can’t, those older Members should retire.
The purpose of the General Assembly is to represent the people, not provide jobs and power.
- Howard - Tuesday, May 5, 20 @ 10:53 am:
Maybe the republicans should review the polling on JBs handling of the crisis. The only real deadline is July 1 and Rauner proved it doesn’t matter either. Patience and safety should prevail.
- Lucky Pierre - Tuesday, May 5, 20 @ 10:53 am:
It would be much safer for Illinois taxpayers if Mike Madigan does not attend the upcoming legislative session.
- Moe Berg - Tuesday, May 5, 20 @ 11:06 am:
Well, pardon me Rep. McDermed, don’t hide your light under a bushel. Show us you aren’t just political grandstanding and share some of these brilliant ideas you have.
Really, what’s preventing you from doing so? Are they TOP SECRET or something? Or, is it you don’t actually have any, or want them open for public scrutiny, or, don’t want the blame if things don’t go well?
==“As the women of the House Republican Caucus, we stand ready to offer solutions and work with you to implement a safe and reasonable regional plan to open Illinois,” they wrote.
“We are ready to offer suggestions, strategies, and solutions; and we are calling for the legislature to reconvene,” the representatives wrote.==
So, you know, start offering. We’re not talking about Col. Sanders’ secret recipe here.
- burbanite - Tuesday, May 5, 20 @ 11:07 am:
Why not have a quick meeting at the United Center to vote on legislation to approve on line mtgs during health crisis? They can adjourn and then go on line.
- Roman - Tuesday, May 5, 20 @ 11:10 am:
Just looked through the House and Senate rosters. Actually, not as many senior citizens as I’d thought there would be.
- Last Bull Moose - Tuesday, May 5, 20 @ 11:11 am:
They might look silly in full hazmat suits, but they could vote. Continued absence looks like cowardice. Checkout clerks can come to work. So can Legislators.
- Lucky Pierre - Tuesday, May 5, 20 @ 11:16 am:
Illinois legislators are proving who are essential workers and who aren’t
- Annonin - Tuesday, May 5, 20 @ 11:27 am:
Ms/Mr Moe Berg
Great points. Show us your secret plan Margo. Guessing it is breath taking. Remember last week was NoTaxBill wanting to return to SPI to “help” the governor. Help with what? Seems last time they “helped” with was derailing the Grand Bargain The Senate President and Senator Radogno fashioned. Maybe Margo and NoTax could call McConnell to work on a state/local plan. He might be busy getting a pardon for Bevins.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, May 5, 20 @ 11:33 am:
The House Republican Women’s Caucus can legally meet, as they have EIGHT members.
There’s only EIGHT Raunerites in their women’s caucus?
Is that low?
- Tynie - Tuesday, May 5, 20 @ 11:39 am:
OW- I’d like to thank you, for helping me realize I wasn’t entirely clear on my idea for those focus groups. When I mentioned it, I should’ve included having them split into one or two that show to vote, and the rest meet by the mediums I named in my prior comment.
- Leigh John-Ella - Tuesday, May 5, 20 @ 12:03 pm:
– Why not have a quick meeting at the United Center to vote … –
Burbanite, I think it would be fantastic for Rep. Darren Bailey and the rest of his GOP legislative crew to have to drive to the United Center for a session in Chicago.
- Flapdoodle - Tuesday, May 5, 20 @ 12:13 pm:
–fantastic for Rep. Darren Bailey and the rest of his GOP legislative crew to have to drive to the United Center for a session in Chicago.–
Problem is the Edsel doesn’t drive so well anymore/s
- Excitable Boy - Tuesday, May 5, 20 @ 12:17 pm:
- Illinois legislators are proving who are essential workers and who aren’t -
Maybe, but you were way ahead of the game on proving that about yourself.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, May 5, 20 @ 12:20 pm:
=== Illinois legislators are proving who are essential workers and who aren’t===
If legislators aren’t essential, why would it matter to you who is the Speaker of the House?
They’re all non-essential, right?
“Exactly right”
- RNUG - Tuesday, May 5, 20 @ 12:43 pm:
== Why not have a quick meeting at the United Center to vote on legislation to approve on line mtgs during health crisis? They can adjourn and then go on line. ==
I keep waiting for this to happen, regardless of location. If they put together an agreed bill using a existing shell, it won’t be that long of a meeting.
- Proud Sucker - Tuesday, May 5, 20 @ 3:19 pm:
===United Center for a session in Chicago===
They could use the BoS Center. It seats 7,000 or so.