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AJC.com > Legislature > Blog > Archives > 2007 > February > 08 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USSanitizer comes in handy for lawmaker
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The huge bottle of hand sanitizer that permanently sits on state Rep. Martin Scott’s desk is a constant reminder of the health hazard politicians face every day: Handshakes.
Handshakes carry germs. And germs can make people sick.
Martin (R-Rossville) knows that all too well. He got sick with the flu in 2005, when he was a freshman in the House of Representatives.
“Everybody had it and I tried to avoid it but it got me,” Scott, a business consultant, said of his bout with the flu. “It was the worst I ever had.”
Scott speculated his illness might have come from someone he came in contact with at the State Capitol. Constituents and lobbyists routinely seek handshakes with lawmakers at the Capitol every day.
“I’m the world’s worst. I walk around shaking everybody’s hands,” Scott said.
Once he recovered, Scott returned to his seat in the House of Representatives with his large bottle of germ-X hand sanitizer. Then he handed out smaller bottles of the sanitizer to lawmakers sitting around him.
Scott periodically squirts some of the cool, clear liquid into his hands every day the legislature is in session.
“One has to be careful of rubbing shoulders with politicians,” Scott joked. “I would definitely recommend that constituents use germ-X after shaking hands with their local politicians. I’m probably no exception.”
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