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But there are also conference calls with state lawmakers that are not available to the public. Sen. <br /> Jeff Jackson, a Mecklenburg County Democrat, has told the N&O that the entire 170 -member <br /> legislature was getting almost daily briefings via conference call from DHHS. Jackson sends out <br /> regular emails to constituents with updates about the coronavirus in the state. <br /> Pat Ryan, spokesperson for Senate leader Phil Berger, a Rockingham County Republican, said it's <br /> good for the executive branch and the legislature to be able to communicate during the crisis . <br /> Harrison, a Guilford County Democrat, said the legislature 's briefings from DHHS are now down <br /> to one or two a week and include DHHS Secretary Mandy Cohen and often Emergency <br /> Management Director Mike Sprayberry. She said the North Carolina congressional delegation is on <br /> those calls, too . <br /> She said lawmakers are allowed to ask questions, but there isn't any strategy discussion. <br /> "I didn't seen anything necessarily untoward about this," Harrison said, saying it's a way for <br /> agencies to convey information to legislators and keep them up to speed. She said the calls start off <br /> the same as DHHS ' press briefings with the case count and other information. <br /> Tadych said that a state agency briefing lawmakers is good in a public health crisis. <br /> " The issue is the rest of us should be able to be there listening," Tadych said . Even if the <br /> information is similar to what's provided elsewhere, the question is if the legislators are being told <br /> the information in a different way, receiving additional information or being told more clearly. <br /> Lawmakers will receive another update from DHHS on Friday, again via conference call . <br /> For more North Carolina government and politics news, listen to the Domecast politics podcast from The <br /> News & Observer and the NC Insider. You can find it on Megaphone, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, <br /> Stitcher or whereveryougetyourpodcasts. <br /> Domecast <br /> Domecast No . 199 : Virus Pol . . . <br /> 00:00:00 <br /> I <br /> SHARE SUBSCRIBE COOKIE POLICY DESCRIPTION <br /> IN THIS PLAYLIST 197 EPISODES <br /> Domecast No . 199 : Virus Politics 21 min <br /> Domecast No . 198: Coronavirus Concerns 24 min <br /> Domecast No . 197 : Election Surprises 24 rnin <br /> Domecast No . 196: Primary Preview 26 min <br /> Domecast No . 195 : The Lindberg Case 26 min <br />