Alaska Senate votes to exclude Eagle River lawmaker who refused to follow COVID-19 policy

JUNEAU — The Alaska Senate voted on Wednesday to allow its leaders to exclude Sen. Lora Reinbold, R-Eagle River, from the state Capitol and most in-person legislative activities because of repeated refusals to follow precautions against COVID-19.

Immediately after the vote, Reinbold attempted to convene a meeting of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which she chairs. The Senate secretary and Senate President Peter Micciche, R-Soldotna, withdrew all staff from the meeting.

“This meeting is canceled,” he told Reinbold, who sat in the chairman’s seat, filming Micciche with her cellphone.

Reinbold can still participate in committee meetings by phone and she can cast votes from a spot in the Senate’s spectator gallery, Micciche said.

Read more: https://www.adn.com/politics/alaska-legislature/2021/03/11/alaska-senate-votes-to-exclude-member-who-refused-to-follow-covid-19-policy/
(Anchorage Daily News)


Senate Secretary Liz Clark (right) holds a copy of the Alaska Legislature's uniform rules on Wednesday as she talks to Sen. Lora Reinbold, R-Eagle River (center), while Senate President Peter Micciche, R-Soldotna, and Senate Majority Leader Shelley Hughes, R-Palmer, look on. Reinbold was excluded from most spaces in the Alaska Capitol until she follows the Legislature's anti-COVID policies. (James Brooks / ADN)