FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 7, 2020
Democrats: House GOP Ignores COVID19 Crisis, Attempts to Resume Session for Pet Bills
PHOENIX – House Democratic Leader Charlene Fernandez released the following statement Thursday night after House Speaker Rusty Bowers refused to follow a Senate Republican plan to adjourn the 2020 legislative session on Friday and return this summer to further address the COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier tonight Bowers abruptly cancelled Friday's reconvening of the session – which has been paused for safety reasons since March 23 – and announced House Republicans intend to remain in session, making no mention of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The House Republican caucus is in a state of chaos, and they are willing to risk the health and safety of members, staff and the public to get their way," said Fernandez, D-Yuma. "Our caucus supports returning to end the session sine die and stop pretending that we can to do business as usual. We must return in a special session to help hard-working Arizonans and small businesses further navigate this pandemic. That would be the right thing to do under these difficult circumstances. Arizona has not yet flattened the curve. Tomorrow we will surpass 10,000 COVID-19 cases, and deaths continue to spike. We have lost 450 lives to this awful disease, 88 reported in just the last three days, including a child in Yuma. To sabotage the Senate's plan under pressure from lobbyists and members who want to return indefinitely to move their pet bills -- with no safe or effective way to include public testimony – is dangerous and counterproductive."
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