Prince George’s County Council members on Tuesday said they’d reconsider legislation to codify the ability of the body’s first pregnant representative to participate in meetings virtually, an apparent course change after a rejection of the measure prompted forceful criticism from other elected officials, labor rights groups and county residents.
“In the spirit of compromise and knowing this division is not something the county needs right now, we will support the resolution with amendments with the hopes that we can all work together without vilifying each other publicly,” member Ingrid Watson said during a council meeting after a dynamic show of opposition outside of the Wayne K. Curry administration building in Largo.
The bloc opposed to the bill had on Monday cast the effort as an unnecessary expansion of existing rules that already allow for virtual meeting participation in limited circumstances. But to unions, liberal organizations such as Progressive Maryland and other supporters of Krystal Oriadha, District 7, the group’s opposition marked a nakedly political and deeply personal strike against a vocal member of the Democratic body’s more-liberal majority.
Oriadha said a vote by the group last week and ensuing statement Monday showed a lack of concern about maternal health, her health and the health of her unborn child.
Click here to read the rest of the article written by Lateshia Beachum over at The Washington Post
