Before beginning his speech on new Assembly rules, @Rep_Jimmy makes a call of the house, which requires all members to come into the chamber and take their seats.
Many of the members have been in the halls and nearby offices during the debate.
Many of the members have been in the halls and nearby offices during the debate.
@Rep_Jimmy It's not unusual for large numbers of lawmakers to leave the chamber during extended Assembly debates.
It is unusual for a member to do a call of house that requires everyone to take his or her seat.
It is unusual for a member to do a call of house that requires everyone to take his or her seat.
@Rep_Jimmy At issue is new rules meant to accommodate Anderson, who uses a wheelchair. He's been asking for months to be allowed to phone into committee meetings.
@Rep_Jimmy Republicans resisted the idea but in recent days agreed to change the rules in the face of a lawsuit.
@Rep_Jimmy But they're including other rule changes that Democrats hate.
Among them are provisions that would allow multiple votes on veto overrides and allow Republicans to prevent Democrats from forcing votes on bills they favor.
Among them are provisions that would allow multiple votes on veto overrides and allow Republicans to prevent Democrats from forcing votes on bills they favor.
@Rep_Jimmy Anderson has said he plans to vote against the rule changes.
He'll speak on the floor about it for the first time today once all members have returned to the Assembly chamber.
He'll speak on the floor about it for the first time today once all members have returned to the Assembly chamber.
@Rep_Jimmy Here's the story so far: jsonline.com/story/news/pol…
@Rep_Jimmy Anderson describes the car accident that left him paralyzed.
He was going to celebrate his birthday when a drunken driver slammed into the car his family was riding in.
He was going to celebrate his birthday when a drunken driver slammed into the car his family was riding in.
@Rep_Jimmy His parents and 14-year-old brother were killed.
@Rep_Jimmy "I was starting into the lifeless eyes of my little brother," Anderson said. "I begged him to tell me that he was still alive. I begged him over and over and tell me he was OK. All I could do was stare because I couldn’t move."
@Rep_Jimmy "All I could hear was the ticking of the engine. That was until I bled out," he said. "On that day my entire family was taken from me and I suffered a complete spinal fracture. I will never walk. I will never use my hands. I will never be able to enjoy my life as I once did."
@Rep_Jimmy He says he doesn't like to talk about all his needs as a disabled person. Republicans ignored him for months and he says leaders did not ask him how they could help him.
@Rep_Jimmy To be to the Assembly by 10 a.m. for today's session, Anderson's home health aide had to wake up at 4:30 a.m. so he could get therapy in the morning, he said.
@Rep_Jimmy Anderson is describing weeks and months of therapy he needs for wounds he suffered months ago for being in his chair too long.
"It literally puts my life at risk" when overnight sessions are held, Anderson tells his colleagues.
"It literally puts my life at risk" when overnight sessions are held, Anderson tells his colleagues.
@Rep_Jimmy .@Rep_Jimmy to Republicans:
"You disregard my accommodation request with the wave of a hand as if it's too much."
"You disregard my accommodation request with the wave of a hand as if it's too much."
@Rep_Jimmy He scolds rank-and-file Republicans, noting none of them signed onto a plan to give him accommodations weeks ago.
"I was just asking to use the damned speaker phones," he tells them.
"I was just asking to use the damned speaker phones," he tells them.
@Rep_Jimmy "The great irony of this is that this is a political stunt that is being pulled," Anderson says of Republicans attaching the accommodation changes to other new rules that Democrats don't like.
@Rep_Jimmy Anderson says he waited for months to hear from Republican leaders when he asked for accommodations.
They only reacted to him after he talked to reporters about it. He says he was frustrated when Republicans then accused him of negotiating through the press.
They only reacted to him after he talked to reporters about it. He says he was frustrated when Republicans then accused him of negotiating through the press.
@Rep_Jimmy He accuses Republicans of being small, petty and unkind because they won't allow a a separate vote on the rules that deal only with accommodating his disability.
@Rep_Jimmy He says he needs 15 Republicans to side with Democrats so they can find a more civil way to address the issue.
@Rep_Jimmy "If you have any respect for me as a fellow colleague, if you respect me as a human being ... turn this down and let's find another way," he says.
@Rep_Jimmy Democrats erupt in applause, which is against the rules.
@Rep_Jimmy Speaker Pro Tem @rep_august slams down the gavel to end the applause.
@Rep_Jimmy @rep_august Updates are here:
