(Radio Iowa) – The 2021 legislative session is convening in the middle of a pandemic. While the Republicans in charge of the legislature are strongly encouraging people in the Capitol to wear face coverings, they will not be required. Legislators and others who work in the building are expected to report to a superior if they have Covid, but not required to do so. House Speaker Pat Grassley, a Republican from New Hartford, says the state constitution does not give him “special power” to prevent duly elected legislators to come onto the House floor.  “People are going to have to use their best judgement and their personal responsibility,” Grassley says.

Senate Republican Leader Jack Whitver says those who don’t wear a mask or socially distance run the risk of having to quarantine or forcing the entire session to be shut down. “The big picture is we have an agenda,” Whitver says. “We made promises, we need to keep those and we need to be able to stay in session as long as possible.” Democrats are requiring face masks in their private meetings. Today (Monday), some Democrats will take their oaths of office in another location in the Capitol rather than on the House floor. House Democratic Leader Todd Prichard of Charles City says the coronavirus is still very active in the general population. “I’m concerned and want to avoid turning the legislature into a super spreader event,” Prichard says.

Senate Democratic Leader Zach Wahls of Coralville says the lack of a mask mandate inside the statehouse is disappointing. “It’s not safe for legislators. It’s not safe for staff,” Wahls says. “It’s not safe for the press and it’s not safe the public.” And Wahls says he’s concerned a group that opposes the governor’s proclamation requiring face masks in some public places will be holding a rally at the Capitol today (Monday). Some legislators and staff have expressed concerns about statehouse safety after last Wednesday’s attack at the U.S. Capitol.

Senator Whitver says there’s been heightened security at the Capitol in Des Moines since last spring’s protests over racial injustice. “We’ve had protests for the last four years at the Capitol. We’ve some very active debates, some lively debates, some lively protests,” Whitver says. “We’ve had riots outside the Capitol. We have beefed up security over the last few years.”

The 100 members of the Iowa House are scheduled to take their oaths of office, beginning at 10 a.m. Twenty-five newly-elected members of the Iowa Senate will be sworn in as well, with one senate seat vacant. Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Ottumwa resigned her Ottumwa-area state senate seat shortly before she was sworn in as a member of the U.S. House. A special election to fill that state senate seat is scheduled for late this month.