Florida may be an ‘oasis of freedom’ in COVID reopenings — but the Capitol is still locked down

Gov. Ron DeSantis and his Republican allies have promoted Florida as an “oasis of freedom,” touting a COVID-19 response that favored reopening businesses over continuing public health restrictions.

It’s a different story, though, in the building where Florida’s politicians work.

The state Capitol complex is still effectively locked down — months after DeSantis lifted remaining restrictions on bars and restaurants. A sign at the Capitol’s entrance informs visitors that the building is “temporarily closed” to protect the public and employees.

“The state of Florida is open for business everywhere but the Capitol,” said Rich Templin, a lobbyist for Florida AFL-CIO. “Why is the Capitol so sacrosanct that it has to be shut down because of the virus, but bars and restaurants down the street are open, and everyone is there?”

DeSantis has barred cities and counties from enforcing mask mandates and other COVID-19 safety regulations, but entering the Capitol comes with adhering to a detailed list of COVID-19 guidelines.

Lawmakers, staffers and members of the media are required to be tested weekly for COVID-19. In the Senate, the public cannot attend committee meetings in person and can comment on bills only remotely from a nearby civic center. The House’s rules are less strict, but the public still must register at least three hours before a meeting to attend.

Despite concerns about “vaccine passports,” legislators, staffers and the media can skip COVID-19 weekly testing by submitting a form indicating that they have been fully vaccinated against the virus. The form is voluntary, and it doesn’t ask for documentation proving a person has been vaccinated.

The rules are in place to protect the Capitol from a COVID-19 outbreak that could halt the legislative process, but the safety measures stand at odds with DeSantis’ “open-everything” tone at public events.

DeSantis proclaimed in February, “We are an oasis of freedom in a nation that is suffering in many parts of the country under the yoke of oppressive lockdowns.”

DeSantis lifted all state COVID-19 restrictions on businesses on Sept. 25, allowing bars and restaurants to operate at 100% capacity. Schoolchildren returned to the classroom in the fall. In-person jury trials have resumed for courts in Broward and Palm Beach counties.

Remote meetings for county and city government boards ended on Nov. 1. Some boards, such as the Palm Beach County Commission, had been listening to in-person testimony well before that date, including heated comments from anti-maskers.

While lawmakers must adhere to COVID protections in the Capitol, they are free to do what they want after hours.

State Rep. Anthony Sabatini, one of the most conservative members of the Legislature, posted a video in late March of him doing a karaoke rendition of the tune “Wagon Wheel” with U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz and state Rep. Alex Andrade at a Tallahassee bar.

Meanwhile, the pandemic has had consequences for debate in the Capitol by keeping lawmakers away from the people they are elected to represent, said Pamela Marsh, president of the Florida First Amendment Foundation.

Spirited protests and emotional in-person testimony have been absent from this year’s legislative session, Marsh said.

“It’s not optimal for public participation,” she said.

DeSantis and Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez have offices in the Florida Capitol, along with 160 state senators and representatives and the Florida Cabinet.

Senate President Wilton Simpson said in March he is hopeful the Capitol will be able to reopen in time for next year’s legislative session.

“We certainly hope that it goes back to normal, where people are visiting us in our office and the public is welcome in this building,” said Simpson, R-Trilby.

Tours of the Governor’s Mansion are available by appointment during the legislative session, which ends on April 30, Cody McCloud, a spokesman for the governor, wrote in an email.

“The Capitol will reopen soon,” he added.

State Sen. Shevrin Jones, D-West Park, said he thinks leadership did a good job on COVID-19 protections to keep elected officials as safe as possible, but he thinks it’s time to let the public back into the Capitol.

“You see what happens when the Capitol is not open,” Jones said. “It’s a free-for-all. My colleagues are just doing as they please.”

Despite the safeguards, numerous state legislators have tested positive for COVID-19 during the pandemic, including Jones, who was diagnosed in July.

Skyler Swisher can be reached at sswisher@sunsentinel.com, 561-243-6634 or @SkylerSwisher.