Senate to require daily wristbands for access
Tuesday, Apr 20, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Email…
Good morning,
I hope you are all enjoying your snowy April Tuesday.
Beginning today, the Senate will now provide wristbands to lobbyists and media who have tested negative for COVID and are cleared for access to Senate offices, press boxes and TV galleries.
There will be a different color wristband each day.
You should pick up your wristband at the table at the north entrance of the Capitol building. You can show your negative COVID test there as well.
You will need to get a new wristband each day of session.
Thank you for your understanding. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Best,
Liz Mitchell
Deputy Press Secretary
Senate President Don Harmon
…Adding… And here it is…
- Pots and kettles - Tuesday, Apr 20, 21 @ 9:27 am:
Certainly worried about their own skins aren’t they?
- West Sider - Tuesday, Apr 20, 21 @ 9:53 am:
The beginning of ‘new’ normal.
- Because I said so.... - Tuesday, Apr 20, 21 @ 10:08 am:
I don’t understand why there cannot be General Assembly rules rather than separate House and Senate Rules.
The wrist bands make sense.
- Cool Papa Bell - Tuesday, Apr 20, 21 @ 10:10 am:
I personally don’t care for a public body further restricting access to themselves. I’d rather see everyone who works in the Senate (lawmakers and staffers) ordered to get vaccinated and then open up access to those masked when you can’t distance.
It seems the restrictions are working against the PEOPLE here.
- @misterjayem - Tuesday, Apr 20, 21 @ 10:24 am:
There are multiple free testing sites in Springfield
https://www.dph.illinois.gov/testing
– MrJM
- Earnest - Tuesday, Apr 20, 21 @ 10:24 am:
Please please please tell me they all have bells on them as well.
- Nieva - Tuesday, Apr 20, 21 @ 10:26 am:
Kinda like Disney World…
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Apr 20, 21 @ 10:33 am:
If the senate removes desks, puts in 3 rings, a cotton candy machine and uses the wristbands to join the circus… I’d be down with that new normal.
People would definitely know of the senate then.
- Cool Papa Bell - Tuesday, Apr 20, 21 @ 10:34 am:
@MrJM - there are multiple free vaccination sites too.
And now the junior college will test you with the Shield test for free - a test that used to run you $30 at the capitol (they still might be charging).
I just don’t care for the extra hoop to get through to get into the building. I maintain I’d rather see the staff ordered to be vaccinated and then let the public in.
I’m prefer my democracy served from the bottom up.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Apr 20, 21 @ 10:42 am:
===There are multiple free testing sites in Springfield===
Senate only accepts the U of I tests.
- ChrisB - Tuesday, Apr 20, 21 @ 10:53 am:
It’s just like college all over again. Five bucks gets you a wristband and a cup.
- SaulGoodman - Tuesday, Apr 20, 21 @ 11:20 am:
Does this mean that if we have a wristband, we dont need appointments to be in the building?
Also, House and Senate - figure out how to do this stuff together, please and thank you.
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Apr 20, 21 @ 11:20 am:
Do you get free drinks with the wrist band?
- JS Mill - Tuesday, Apr 20, 21 @ 11:26 am:
How many tokens do you get for $10?
What will Bailley do now?
- cermak_rd - Tuesday, Apr 20, 21 @ 11:29 am:
Is there a sensor in the bracelet that alarms when you’re too close to someone else? That’s what they have rolled out at work. It alarms if you get too close and it stores proximity info for contact tracing. Required of all employees and visitors.
The only objection I have is it’s too bad they didn’t roll them out last year, but then I guess it took a while for them to be developed.
- Fav Human - Tuesday, Apr 20, 21 @ 11:32 am:
Senate only accepts the U of I tests.
Only the best for them
- Nadigam - Tuesday, Apr 20, 21 @ 11:36 am:
It doubles for entrance to the beer garden at Boones.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Apr 20, 21 @ 11:39 am:
“I’m with the band”
“We still need a wristband”
“No, I’m *with* the band, like we’re next in the Bud Light Ring”
“Unless you get a wristband you can play that xylophone out here with your buddy playing the oboe”
- Annonin - Tuesday, Apr 20, 21 @ 11:54 am:
And will they get you $8 buckets at DH Browns? JP Kellys? The Bird? etc
- From DaZoo - Tuesday, Apr 20, 21 @ 12:01 pm:
OW - “…puts in 3 rings, a cotton candy machine and uses the wristbands to join the circus…”
Now I have the Schoolhouse Rocks! “Three Ring Government” video going through my head.
- Cool Papa Bell - Tuesday, Apr 20, 21 @ 12:03 pm:
//orders tyveck wrist bands in assorted colors…
//checks Twitter each day for wrist band color…
- ;) - Tuesday, Apr 20, 21 @ 12:18 pm:
Kind of like being at a crappy all inclusive resort, but without the umbrella drinks.
- @misterjayem - Tuesday, Apr 20, 21 @ 12:37 pm:
“I’m with the band”
Now I can’t stop picturing the legislature as a Pitchfork-type festival with a Senate Stage on one end and a House Stage on the other.
(FYI: The Eastern Bloc is playing on the acoustic stage behind the porta-potties.)
– MrJM
- Give Me A Break - Tuesday, Apr 20, 21 @ 12:43 pm:
This better get me on the Giant Slide in August.
- Cool Papa Bell - Tuesday, Apr 20, 21 @ 1:39 pm:
The Senate would be Riot Fest - it happens in the city but no one really talks about it and its always overshadowed by other festivals…
Pitchfork = House
Riot Fest = Senate
DuQuoin State Fair = Eastern Bloc
- Pot calling kettle - Tuesday, Apr 20, 21 @ 1:39 pm:
Paul Simon’s comment (the other Paul Simon).
https://youtu.be/9lJHVpH5v8Q
- Just Another Anon - Tuesday, Apr 20, 21 @ 2:48 pm:
Seems like Rich is opposed to pieces of flair in general.
- EssentialStateEmployeeFromChatham - Tuesday, Apr 20, 21 @ 3:19 pm:
==DuQuoin State Fair = Eastern Bloc==
Illinois State Fair = Northern Bloc (of Springfield, that is). Sadly other terms exist to describe the Fair and the north end of Springfield.
- Tombrady - Tuesday, Apr 20, 21 @ 9:57 pm:
Do you have a “preferred” wrist band for people who are preferred?