The majority of House Republicans begrudgingly masked up in the chamber, including several who went maskless the day earlier like Reps. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas), Matt Rosendale (R-Mont.) and Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), who told Forbes on Wednesday he didn’t wear a mask because “you get a warning” before being fined. Asked whether members have been fined, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi wouldn’t comment – Forbes has reached out to her office. Washington, D.C. reimposed a mask mandate on Thursday amid a 13% increase in hospitalizations over the last two weeks. That’s how much a member can be fined for refusing to wear a mask on the floor, after a first-offense warning and a $500 fine – the latter of which six House Republicans have already received for a mask protest in May.

Source: Forbes July 29, 2021 21:00 UTC