Lamar is one of many Mississippi lawmakers and staff who were infected by the coronavirus at the Capitol. This outbreak occurred as lawmakers closed their 2020 legislative session. After the July 1 session ended, many lawmakers were refusing to wear face masks or engage in social distancing. The Capitol was sometimes jammed as lawmakers voted for the retirement of the Confederate flag. The legislative outbreak leaves the state government without a clear path forward. This includes the unfinished business of addressing the governor’s veto over the state public education budget. Health officials advise lawmakers to avoid gathering again until the Capitol is reopened. Lt. Governor Philip Gunn, Speaker of the House, and Philip Gunn are both positive. Delbert Hosemann is the Senate’s Speaker. He has also tested positive. The spokesperson for the Republican speaker said that Gunn was “doing great” and that he had announced the results of his tests on July 5. He will be giving interviews online later in the week as the American Legislative Exchange Council chair, which is a national organization that supports conservative ideas and legislation. Hosemann’s spokesperson said that there has been no change in his condition and that the lieutenant governor is still in quarantine. Hosemann confirmed his positive test July 7. On Tuesday, the state health officer reported that 41 people (staff and legislators) have been confirmed positive. This includes 30 legislators. Dobbs stated that there have been two hospitalizations related to the Capitol outbreak. Lamar stated that he has heard of even more potential cases. Senatobia’s 39-year-old House Ways and Means chairman Lamar was lucid about how he felt beginning on July 4. It’s not something to be taken lightly. “On the evening of July 4, I felt terrible. I had fever, aches, chills, and a few days later, I was experiencing dry cough. I couldn’t catch breath and I felt awful. Lamar stated that he started feeling better on Sunday afternoon and was feeling much better by Tuesday. Although he knew of at least one lawmaker who was hospitalized, he said that he wasn’t. His family members have not been affected by the flu. Lamar stated, “They put me into a guest room and locked me up in isolation.” Additional work is expected as lawmakers and staff heal. Because of a power struggle about spending federal Gulf Restoration funds, the Legislature failed to pass a budget for Department of Marine Resources. After lawmakers failed to fund a bonus program for the top-performing teachers he supports, the governor vetoed a large portion of the state’s budget for public education. Gov. Tate Reeves said Tuesday that the executive branch had been able to finance both agencies. Reeves said that the situation is fluid and that he would not call lawmakers back to special session to address the issues until the threat to public health is reduced. Reeves stated that public health must be the priority over all else. “… Does it make sense? No. It is not perfect. No. No. No. No.