Berkley Democrat Votes In-Person After Testing Positive For COVID-19

LANSING, MI — A Democratic state lawmaker who showed up to vote in-person with COVID-19 has some on the other side of the aisle questioning the chamber's protocols.

Rep. Natalie Price, D-Berkley, stayed away from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's in-person State of the State address last Wednesday after testing positive for COVID-19, but showed up at the State Capitol the next day to vote on an economic package that centered on tax cut deals for seniors and low-income workers.

"That’s really our big question is what rules are we following?," Republican House Minority Leader Andrew Beeler told Fox 2 Detroit. "And I think that’s really where the Republicans are at, what is the standard? What are the rules that we’re following and how are we protecting our members and our staff."

Moreover, Republican. Rep. Angela Rigas, R-Caledonia Township, called Price's decision "hypocritical."

"Democrats in Michigan are so desperate, foolish and disorganized that they put the lives and health of all of us at risk by allowing Rep. Price to be present for their radical, reckless spending spree votes," she said in a Thursday Facebook post.

The state house chamber in Lansing follows the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention isolation guidelines, which require individuals to stay home for five days after testing positive, according to the Michigan House's website.

Price said she tested positive for COVID-19, despite being fully vaccinated, on Wednesday and stayed home from Whitmer's speech. She went on to say "I showed up to vote in support of bills that will bring much needed economic relief to hardworking Michiganders."

"I remained in my car until it was time to vote and then proceeded to vote from the gallery," she added. "I remained far more than six feet away from everyone and wore a mask the entire time I was in the building. I took all precautions I could to protect the health and safety of my colleagues while fulfilling my responsibility."

Price represents the state's 5th House District, which includes parts of Detroit, Berkley, Beverly Hills, Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Oak Park, Royal Oak and Southfield.

Democrats hold slim majorities in both the state House and Senate, giving them full control of the state legislature for the first time in nearly 40 years.