Illness sidelines Sen. McCoy as pace of lawmaking heats up

OLYMPIA — State Sen. John McCoy’s absence from the Legislature continued Tuesday as he deals with a nasty bout of flu and pneumonia.

The 75-year-old Tulalip lawmaker has not been in the Senate the past week. He said he’s on the mend though didn’t set a date for returning.

“I am at my Tumwater home recovering from pneumonia and the flu,” he said in a statement Tuesday. “Pneumonia is clearing up nicely, but the flu is clearing slower. The latest medications seem to be helping me turn the corner. Overall I feel a lot better.”

McCoy reportedly became ill early last week and spent a couple of days in the hospital receiving treatment. On Friday, he relayed through a spokeswoman that he expected to be back at work Monday. But that didn’t happen.

McCoy, who is chairman of the Senate Democratic Caucus, is missing a busy stretch of the 2019 session.

There is a deadline Wednesday for the Senate and House to act on bills coming from the opposite chamber. Lawmakers are spending hours on the floor each day voting on bills or working to ensure their own legislation is acted on.

McCoy represents the 38th Legislative District which encompasses Everett, Tulalip and part of Marysville. He is one of the longest serving legislators in the Snohomish County delegation.

He won a seat in the state House in 2002. He was appointed to his Senate position in 2013 and elected to a full term in 2014. McCoy won re-election in November. One issue raised by opponents in the campaign was whether he would serve an entire term.

McCoy said then that he was focused on the election and not what might happen afterwards.

“I don’t know,” he said. “Right now I do not plan on leaving early.”

Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623; jcornfield@herald net.com; Twitter: @dospueblos.