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* Email to Statehouse media from John Patterson, spokesman for the Office of the Illinois Senate President…

As the Senate begins to transition back to in-person activities, we have implemented a testing requirement that applies to employees, staff and members. This would also apply to media when we return next week.

We have implemented the University of Illinois saliva test, which is done twice a week to ensure anyone in Senate facilities is negative for COVID-19. This is the same process used at the University of Illinois. Essentially you show your negative test result email to gain access.

All online access will continue for anyone not wanting to be tested. The ILCA offices will continue to be available regardless. This testing requirement is only for in-person in Senate facilities (offices, committees, Senate chamber). Health and safety guidelines do also remain in effect. That means even with the testing, the press boxes are limited to three spots, as is the overhead TV gallery.

The cost of the test is $30 per test per person. Media outlets would be required to cover the cost. (Yes, I know I buried the lede.)

Here’s how the system works. There is testing on Monday with results coming later that day that clears you to be in the Senate on Tuesday and Wednesday. On Wednesday, there is another round of testing, the results of which clears people to be in the Senate on Thursday and Friday. Testing is done on the Capitol Complex.

The end result of this is people can come to work at the Senate knowing that anyone they come in contact with has a current negative status. Anyone not wanting to test can utilize remote participation and access.

Of note, this testing and process is being done at UIS, so any PAR students should already have access to free testing under this same system.

For next week, the media would be the only outside entity that would be accommodated under this system. It is envisioned as expanding, but we are still working through this transition.

To anticipate a question, the public gallery would be open to media who are not credentialed for the press boxes but whose personnel have gone through the COVID testing.

The Senate is scheduled to return to the Capitol next week for Tuesday and Wednesday and possible Thursday. That would mean anyone wanting to cover proceedings on Tuesday and Wednesday would need to be tested on Monday. This is the policy for anyone to be in the Senate offices, committees or chamber.

Paying $30-$60 a week to exercise my 1st Amendment rights isn’t the best news I’ve ever heard, but I’ll deal with it.

* The Question: Your thoughts on the Senate’s testing mandate?

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Mar 3, 21 @ 2:54 pm

Comments

Cost aside, this is how we should be dealing with the pandemic. Frequent testing and contact tracing. I wish this level of testing would be more widespread as we await vaccinations.

Comment by Guy Probably Wednesday, Mar 3, 21 @ 2:58 pm
So, the next step is we are charging the general public to have access to State government ??

Comment by Wow Wednesday, Mar 3, 21 @ 2:59 pm
Cost of doing business. The question is does that include the credit card processing fee?😕

Comment by Southsider Wednesday, Mar 3, 21 @ 3:07 pm
= we are charging=
No the general public still will not be allowed to participate in person.

Comment by May Soon Be Required Wednesday, Mar 3, 21 @ 3:09 pm
Reasonable.

==Paying $30-$60 a week to exercise my 1st Amendment rights isn’t the best news I’ve ever heard, but I’ll deal with it.==

They could always tell the press to shove it on Zoom, which is still an option for the Amy Jacobson crowd.

Comment by Precinct Captain Wednesday, Mar 3, 21 @ 3:11 pm
Wow, which option do you want: 1) individuals pay for their tests to be allowed in the building instead of being remote, 2) the government pays for (?) everyone who wants to be in the building instead of remote -I remember a lot of bellyaching about “waste” when it came to lunches at BoS- 3) no one gets tested and everyone in the Capitol rolls the dice, or 4) everything stays remote.
I don’t particularly like any on those, myself

Comment by Perrid Wednesday, Mar 3, 21 @ 3:13 pm
It’s Pay-to-Play, COVID testing style.

Comment by Essential State Employee Wednesday, Mar 3, 21 @ 3:16 pm
I’ve paid the $60 late filing fee more times than I’d like to admit for the privilege of reporting $0 in lobbying expenses every two weeks.

So I’ll see your $30-$60 per week and raise you $600 to register as a lobbyist plus late filing fees to disclose zero activity.

The First Amendment has a price, and it’s way higher than the Second Amendment’s.

Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Mar 3, 21 @ 3:17 pm
=Media outlets would be required to cover the cost.=

Despite this requirement–and their huge station holdings–is it just me or will it also not surprise any of you if Sinclair forces the Channel 20 reporters to pay for their own tests? I certainly wouldn’t as such actions seem to be status operendi on East Cook.

Comment by Essential State Employee Wednesday, Mar 3, 21 @ 3:20 pm
With the vastly improved vaccine availability and continued mask wearing and distancing it seems like administering tests of that frequency and cost in the senate facility at this stage of the virus may be excessive precaution. But I won’t be there in any capacity so it’s up to the people who are there to decide. I guess among other things it’s good advertising nationally for the U of I saliva test.

Comment by Responsa Wednesday, Mar 3, 21 @ 3:25 pm
=The First Amendment has a price, and it’s way higher than the Second Amendment’s=

Concealed Carry costs: $10 for FOID, $175 for 16 hours of training, $150 for The license plus a $3.38 credit card fee. Then get ready to wait about 6 months. the pandemic will end and then the testing will be gone, he 2A fees are forever.

Comment by Donnie Elgin Wednesday, Mar 3, 21 @ 3:27 pm
What about if you have proof of vaccination?

Comment by Fantasma Wednesday, Mar 3, 21 @ 3:42 pm
==What about if you have proof of vaccination?==
The science is still out on whether if you are vaccinated if you can still spread COVID so whether or not you are vaccinated shouldn’t matter.

Comment by FinanceCity Wednesday, Mar 3, 21 @ 3:48 pm
FinanceCity is correct. You can still get the covid when you’re vaccinated. You just don’t get sick. Whether you’re contagious is unknown, and since there are often no symptoms, it’s probably best to be tested.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Mar 3, 21 @ 4:03 pm
Your first amendment right are the same as everyone else’s.

Comment by Franklin Wednesday, Mar 3, 21 @ 4:22 pm
=== Paying $30-$60 a week===
What 47th Ward said. Plus we all saved thousands in not going to Springfield for the last year. Heck $60 is a cheap bar tab.

Comment by Been There Wednesday, Mar 3, 21 @ 4:26 pm
“I’ve paid the $60 late filing fee more times than I’d like to admit for the privilege of reporting $0 in lobbying expenses every two weeks.”

Oh hell to the yea. It’s one of the biggest scams out there. Completely pointless reporting that reveals nothing. And requiring it every two weeks at all times including the summer and fall is ridiculous. But it is what it is.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Wednesday, Mar 3, 21 @ 5:14 pm
CDC came out recently and said that vaccinated individuals do not need to quarantine even if they come in contact with known COVID positive individuals so I am not sure there is as great of a concern within the CDC of vaccinated spread of the virus as some still believe. Why would the CDC not require quarantine if they believed that the vaccinated person could spread the virus?

Comment by Eastside Wednesday, Mar 3, 21 @ 6:18 pm
Given the state of the local media, I can’t see how news rooms will be willing to pay for the tests. The price seems high - and a place where news operations would gladly cut the costs.

Comment by Cool Papa Bell Wednesday, Mar 3, 21 @ 7:55 pm
—- You can still get the covid when you’re vaccinated.

This is true of many, if not all diseases for which there is a vaccination. The issue is it is usually minor case if you do get it and then it depends on the disease and the vaccination whether it’s contagious. My kids got the chicken pox vaccine and got the chicken pox, but it was far more mild than a typical case.

Comment by ArchPundit Wednesday, Mar 3, 21 @ 11:25 pm
This means everybody needs to get down to Springfield a day early, on a Monday, for a traditional Tues-Thurs session week. Should have testing on Tuesday too.

Comment by One Opinion Thursday, Mar 4, 21 @ 8:46 am