The Tennessee General Assembly on Monday it will go on a recess soon to prevent the spreading of coronavirus.
The decision came a day after Gov. Bill Lee met with the speakers of the Senate and House to discuss postponing business.
In a joint statement issued Monday afternoon, Gov. Lee, Speaker Cameron Sexton and Lt. Gov. Randy McNally said they are making the decision in the interest of public health. They will focus on passing a budget and then recessing.
“This is a serious time for our state and country, and we all must make adjustments in response to this threat. Our approach will take into account the unique public health challenges this complex virus presents, as well as the economic disruption likely to occur as a result of its spread,” the statement reads.
The statement said that passing a budget immediately will help lawmakers to focus on addressing coronavirus.
In a press conference Monday afternoon, Lee told reporters his administration anticipates to present its budget on Wednesday.
“This pathway forward should only be reserved for extraordinary circumstances,” the statement said. “We will continue operating out of an abundance of caution and take additional action if it becomes necessary.”
The House and Senate are still scheduled to hold a floor session this afternoon. It will reflect the economic impact of the pandemic in the state.
“Forecasts for growth, forecast for the future economy of our country have changed dramatically, and therefore we have a responsibility to adjust as well in state government,” Lee said.
However, it’s not clear how long it will take for the legislature to pass the budget.
The House and Senate are still scheduled to hold a floor session this afternoon. But they’ve restricted access to the state Capitol to essential staff, lawmakers and the press.
This article was originally published at wpln.org.
