At this time of year members of the state House of Representatives sit for long hours in some very old and very odd chairs that haven't become more comfortable with time. Who could blame them if their lawmaking skills suffered along with their lower backs. In the modern age of ergonomic chairs, the 150 seats in the House are dated in more ways than one. Installed when the Statehouse was built in 1859, they are anchored in the floor so legislators can't pull the chairs up to their desks.
Back support is practically nonexistent.
A single wooden bar runs at waist level around the lower back, but try to lean into the bar for support and you'll nearly topple backward because the chairs have no fixed spine. Symington was found shortly before 6 p.m. Thursday listening to the House proceedings from the considerably more comfortable high-back chairs that are officially meant for Senate members when they join the House in ceremonial joint assembly. Thirty of those comfy chairs face out to the House from a raised section on either side of the speaker's rostrum. As House voting sessions get longer as the year's adjournment nears, many members can be seen forsaking their regular seats for those empty Senate seats. The window seats in the hall are another popular alternative.