Indiana lawmakers won’t be required to wear masks when they convene at the Statehouse next week. This despite Governor Eric Holcomb’s decision Wednesday to increase COVID-19 precautions in the state.
A joint House-Senate committee voted Thursday against a Democratic lawmaker’s proposal to enforce a face mask policy.
READ MORE: No Masks For Indiana Lawmakers Despite Virus Spread
Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray says most lawmakers will wear masks, but any rule would be difficult to enforce.
Senator Greg Taylor leads the Indiana Senate Democratic Caucus. He points out that senate rules require a suit jacket and a tie on the floor.
“We do have rules associated with what we wear on the floor of the senate," he says. "We can enforce those, we’ve enforced them for years.”
Taylor adds that there are at-risk individuals in the Senate.
He says not requiring senators to wear facemasks when they convene will set a bad example and he hopes a mask requirement will be reconsidered.
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