BOISE, Idaho — The Idaho House and Senate on Friday quickly moved to recess until April 6 as the coronavirus spread in the Statehouse.
House legislative leaders abruptly canceled all committee meetings Friday morning. Two House members — Reps. James Ruchti, a Pocatello Democrat, and Greg Chaney, a Caldwell Republican — tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday. That makes six House members who tested positive for COVID-19 in the past week.
House Speaker Scott Bedke, an Oakley Republican, said House leaders decided to recess given that six House members tested positive for COVID-19 in the past week. He said he knows of one staffer who also tested positive.
“When you apply the contact tracing to the six and the staff that is out, we’re going to err on the side of caution here,” Bedke said at a press conference Friday. “I’m not all that surprised. We knew it was a big possibility, and we planned for it as best we could.” I would never tell my peers what to do with their lives. We all could’ve been more careful. I’m not saying that we did everything perfectly, but we did it pretty well.House speaker Scott Bedke
But Bedke said he has no regrets about the way he conducted safety protocols during the pandemic. Masks were not mandated at the Capitol, and many state legislators didn’t wear them or keep their distance.
“I would never tell my peers what to do with their lives,” Bedke said Friday. “We all could’ve been a little more careful. I’m not saying that we did everything perfectly, but we did it pretty well.”
Senate Majority Leader Kelly Anthon, a Burley Republican, said senators will honor the request of House leaders so both chambers can conduct business together at the Capitol. Anthon said the recess gives lawmakers time to plan for the best use of the federal COVID-19 relief dollars coming to the state.
“We are saddened to hear about the increase in cases in the House,” Anthon said in a statement Friday. “The Senate has always understood the seriousness of COVID-19. But we respect the oath and obligation we have to do the important work of the state, and while mindful of the risks to us personally, we remain focused on the work ahead.”
Republicans Reps. Lance Clow, of Twin Falls; Ryan Kerby, of New Plymouth; Bruce Skaug, of Nampa; and Julie Yamamoto, of Caldwell, also tested positive for COVID-19 in the past week, Idaho Press reported.
Kerby is on both House Judiciary & Rules Administration and House Education committees. Three other members of the judiciary committee and two other members of the House Education committee tested positive.
Idaho’s test positivity rate for COVID-19 rose this week for the first time in more than two months. State health officials on Thursday reported that 5.5% of PCR tests were positive for COVID-19 in the past week. The state’s target is 5% or lower.
Idaho has reported more than than 1,900 deaths due to COVID-19 and nearly 177,000 confirmed and probable cases since the pandemic began.
Two senators have previously tested positive for COVID-19, and at least two staffers in the Capitol have gotten the virus.
In January, Democratic representatives with compromised immune systems and disability rights groups sued the Legislature in two separate lawsuits over the lack of precautions taken during the pandemic. Democrats voluntarily dropped their lawsuit when they got vaccinated.
