First day of special session in Frankfort

FRANKFORT, Ky. (WTVQ) – Tuesday, state lawmakers reconvened in Frankfort for day one of the special session called by Governor Andy Beshear.

As coronavirus cases surge in the state, fueled by the delta variant, the response to the COVID-19 pandemic is now in the hands of the republican-dominated legislature.

The House and Senate went straight to work on resolutions extending the state of emergency order declared by Beshear. The resolutions would extend that state of emergency until January 15 when regular session begins.

It’s one of the requests Beshear made before calling the special session.

Resolution 1 also extends the state of emergency in Nicholas County, an area recently hit hard by flooding.

The county found out Tuesday FEMA denied its request for disaster relief.

So far, it seems Resolution 1 is the only bipartisan legislation, but it still drew fierce debate.

Senator Morgan McGarvey, a democrat from Louisville, said addressing the pandemic shouldn’t be political.

“What we should do is make sure every branch of government, at every level of government, has the tools and the resources it needs to effectively combat this virus,” McGarvey said.

Republican Senator Damon Thayer rebutted and said Beshear ruled without checks and balances for too long.

“We are the people’s branch of government,” Thayer said. “We are closer to the people by the very definition of our jobs in our districts than a governor who represents all 4.5 million people.”

Outside the capitol, people protested the mask mandate.

“We’re on like day 10 of a walk out from Fayette County Public Schools because I see masking my children as muzzling them like a dog and I won’t do it,” Alycia Dahmer said. “I see it as child abuse and it is wrong.”

“You can’t have mandates and liberty, and our constitution says we have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

Ultimately, GOP super-majorities will decide what passes during this special session.