NJ Republicans Dodge COVID-19 Vaccine Policy, Enter Statehouse

TRENTON, NJ — Unvaccinated Republican members of the General Assembly were initially stopped from entering the Assembly chambers Thursday but have since made their way past state troopers and into their seats, according to sources on the scene and at least one Republican official.

This comes after days of hypotheticals and shots across the aisle over the Assembly's Republicans filing of a legal challenge regarding a new policy to restrict chamber access for those who are unvaccinated, or who haven't given proof of a negative COVID-19 test. Read more: NJ Assembly Republicans Will Challenge Statehouse COVID Policy

Assemblyman Erik Peterson said that state troopers were indeed blocking the entry to the chamber, something that State Police Superintendent Col. Patrick Callahan said was a possibility earlier this week.

"I am currently in Trenton for a vote in the General Assembly and the Democrats have the State Troopers blocking entry to the Assembly Chamber," Peterson wrote on Facebook.

However, according to tweets from the scene by New Jersey Globe reporter Joey Fox, some Republicans have simply walked past the state troopers on the scene, testing the comments made by Callahan that his officers wouldn't physically restrain anyone who tried to buck the new rule.

Fox and Politico's Matt Friedman both report that Assemblyman Brian Bergen was able to make his way into the chamber without showing proof of vaccination.

Troopers are also blocking journalists from entering the Assembly floor or gallery, according to New Jersey Globe's David Wildstein.

There was also talk that troopers would begin removing members of the Assembly who didn't show proof of vaccination. However, Assemblyman Kevin Rooney later said that Republicans had taken their seats in the chamber.

Assemblyman Robert Auth said this was an instance of the "Republican Assembly Caucus holding strong, not accepting vaccination passport concept."

Addressing the Assembly once voting started on Thursday, Speaker Craig Coughlin said there was a "colossal failure of security."

He also criticized his Republican colleagues:

Coughlin issued a full statement later in the day:

"Today 80,000 families earning up to $150,000 received a tax credit and thousands of hardworking poll workers got a raise despite the fact that a small group of radical Assembly Republicans chose to put showmanship for their own gain above the interests of the working people of our state. Democrats came down to do the people’s business, complying with a reasonable common sense policy that millions of New Jerseyans follow each and every day, and we addressed the most pressing legislative matters."

How did we get here?

A new COVID-19 vaccine and testing policy would bar anyone who cannot provide proof of full vaccination, or a negative PCR or rapid test within the last 72 hours, from entering the Statehouse. Members of the legislature must follow these rules but can show a proof of negative test from anytime within the previous seven days. The same is true for legislative employees.

The policy was approved by the State Capitol Joint Management Commission in October, and would allow legislators to vote remotely. But Republican Assembly members did not agree with the passage of the measure and filed a complaint in New Jersey Superior Court seeking a stay of the measure.

“We’re petitioning the Court for emergent relief to block enforcement of an exclusionary policy that we believe is unconstitutional and undemocratic,” said Sen. Steven Oroho, the incoming Senate Republican leader. “With the policy taking effect today, we felt compelled to take action to ensure continued public access to the Statehouse and the legislative process.”

Democratic Assembly members and Gov. Phil Murphy alike have spoken out against the move by their Republican counterparts, with the former publishing a full op-ed in the Star-Ledger.

"It is 20 seconds of time. Twenty seconds. Ten seconds in each nostril," said Murphy. "It's just ridiculous."

Read more: NJ Assembly Republicans Will Challenge Statehouse COVID Policy