By Bob Katzen

The Senate 3-35, rejected a Senate rules amendment that would strike the rule that allows a senator to participate remotely, from their home, office or other location. In a Senate session. The rule was first instituted during the pandemic.

Amendment supporters said it is time to abolish remote voting and require senators to show up in person for Senate sessions. They argued that the remote voting system was reasonable and useful during the COVID epidemic but noted that remote voting ends up in senators not being able to talk and communicte with each other during the Senate sessions.

Sen. Ryan Fattman (R-Suttin), the sponsor of the amenmdent, did not responnd to repeated attempts by Beacon Hill Roll Call asking him why he filed and supported the amendment.

Amendment opponents said that remote voting is a good second option for senators who cannot be in the chamber because of illness, family matters and more. They noted remote voting increases opportunities for senators to vote instead of not being recorded on a roll call because they are not in the chamber.

(A “Yes” vote is for striking the rule allowing remote voting and is therefore against remote voting. “A “No” vote is against eliminating the rule and therefore in favor of remote voting.)

Sen. Patricia Jehlen No