ALAN FRAM and MATTHEW DALY
Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Congressional leaders are resisting calls to let lawmakers vote remotely, a dispute pitting the scourge of the coronavirus against two centuries of tradition that underscores Washington's struggle to adapt to swiftly evolving recommendations for coping with the pandemic.
Advocates of the voting change cite the health perils of air travel at a time when health experts want people to avoid crowds. They argue that as infections spread, it may become all but impossible for many lawmakers to journey to the Capitol because of the growing risk of getting the virus.
"There was a time when physical presence was the only way to make sure that a person was present and voting," said No. 2 Senate Democratic leader Dick Durbin, D-Ill.
