Washington lawmakers kick off mostly remote session

By RACHEL LA CORTE
Associated Press

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Lawmakers in Washington state have started a new legislative session amid the backdrop of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and much of their work will be done remotely as leaders try to limit the possibility of exposure. Since Friday, four Democratic senators _ Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig and Sens. John Lovick, Mark Mullet and Yasmin Trudeau _ and one Republican senator _ Shelly Short _ announced they had tested positive for the coronavirus. When the session officially convened at noon Monday, just four lawmakers were present in the House _ Speaker Laurie Jinkins, newly sworn in Democratic Rep. Dan Bronoske, and Republican Reps. Drew MacEwen and Paul Harris _ and 15 were present in the Senate.