How seriously are Arizona legislators taking the new coronavirus?

State Rep. Anthony Kern, R-Glendale, posted a photo of himself on social media Tuesday dining out with three other lawmakers after 8 p.m., the time when Phoenix bars were ordered to shut dining rooms as a public health precaution.

"It's 8:15 p.m.," Kern wrote, pictured pointing at a clock with Rep. Mark Finchem and Sens. David Gowan and Sonny Borelli, all Republicans. "Do you know where Phoenix Mayor (Kate Gallego) is?"

Kern appears to have deleted the Twitter post, and while it is not clear if they were even dining in Phoenix, the image was a clear shot at Gallego's response to the pandemic. It also made plain that there is nothing approaching a consensus on how the Arizona Legislature should handle the public health emergency.

While the Legislature approved up to $55 million last week to deal with the public health response to the new coronavirus, lawmakers have sharply disagreed on whether to pass a broader relief package and adjourn in the face of a pandemic — or stick around and work.

Others have argued for pausing the annual legislative session and resuming when the economic impact is clearer.

"If you asked every single person here what they think, I bet you'd get 60 different answers," Rep. Kelly Townsend, R-Mesa, told the House on Tuesday.

All of this has cast a question over what kinds of measures Arizonans can expect from the state to help workers who have seen their shifts cut, students who are not sure whether they will return to school this semester and doctors bracing for an onslaught of patients.

Leaders of the Senate and House of Representatives have talked in recent days about quickly passing a basic budget that could keep funding flowing for state agencies into the new fiscal year if they adjourn sooner than anticipated due to the new coronavirus. That could leave questions unanswered, though, about relief for Arizonans feeling the economic impact of the new coronavirus or how schools should proceed for the semester.

The House will begin debate on a basic spending plan Wednesday morning and passed a slew of bills Tuesday to keep government agencies functioning.

Speaker Rusty Bowers, R-Mesa, suggested lawmakers pass necessary legislation and leave the Capitol in a few days, possibly returning in the coming weeks or months.

But Senate President Karen Fann, R-Prescott, did not rule out continuing work into next week.

And a debate in the House on Tuesday revealed starkly different views of the Legislature's next moves.

Lawmakers start voting remotely

The House took the highly unusual step of allowing members to vote remotely on legislation in anticipation that some might choose or need to stay home as a health precaution.

Most Republicans argued that it was a reasonable step using readily available web conferencing technology to keep lawmakers working through a very unusual period.

"If someone has a compromised immune system, we should not ask them to give up their obligation to vote," said Rep. John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills.

A spokesman for Fann said the Senate does not have plans to adopt a similar system.

Bowers said the current system would accommodate six people at a time if needed, and maybe more in the future. Two Democrats — Reps. Gerae Peten, of Goodyear, and Amish Shah, an emergency room doctor avoiding the Capitol for public health reasons — were the first to use the system.

But Democrats countered that the measure seemed to be a way for Republicans to preserve a slim 31-29 majority and ensure they could pass a budget without necessarily having to compromise with Democratic lawmakers.

"This is a measure to ensure 31 Republican votes on anything that passes. That is what this," said Rep. Reginald Bolding, D-Laveen.

Democrats propose relief for workers

Democrats have called for several measures, including economic assistance for the newly unemployed and paid sick leave for those expected to report to work. Several also have argued the Legislature should wrap up its work quickly to allow staff to work from home.

Seventeen other states had postponed legislative session as of Tuesday in response to the new coronavirus.

There are also bound to be a range of contingencies, though, that will emerge as the state continues to grapple with the new pandemic.

House Majority Leader Warren Petersen, R-Mesa, said there will be legislation to let students finish the school year at home.

In light of the presidential preference election, some local election administrators also want lawmakers to prepare for disruptions to voting in August and November.

As legislators have mulled adjourning the session early, though, some leading lawmakers have questioned the government's response to the new coronavirus.

On Sunday, Fann called the Arizona Education Association's call to cancel classes pure politics. Hours later, Gov. Doug Ducey canceled classes across the state.

Petersen has taken to social media to argue against limiting service at restaurants and other establishments, as health officials have done in numerous cities — including, now, Phoenix, Flagstaff and Tucson.