Legislative unity urged in pandemic

Gov. Asa Hutchinson said Friday that he called on the Legislature to meet by Dec. 31 to support continuing the state's pandemic-related public health emergency declaration past that date in response to some lawmakers who don't want the declaration extended without their approval.

"Now, there is all kind of questions that come up if they don't meet and they just blow it off and don't do anything; then I will continue to use my power to extend the emergency because I presume we'll continue to be in one on Dec. 31," the Republican governor said in an interview.

"But I think ... this is very important for Arkansas to see unity as we address this pandemic," Hutchinson said.

The governor's televised announcement Thursday night that he was renewing his declaration of a public health emergency and that he would ask the Legislature to meet as a Committee of the Whole to "support and affirm the current public emergency" surprised some lawmakers and confused others.

Read more: https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2020/dec/12/legislative-unity-urged-in-pandemic/?news-arkansas