TRENTON – It’s not exactly a surprise that health restrictions are political. It’s been that way since the pandemic began almost 20 months ago.

Today, that battle forced its way – literally – into the Statehouse.

Policy requires all who enter – lawmakers included – to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test.

A number of Assembly Republicans vowed not to comply, and today they made good on their promise.

This prompted a scene out of a low-budget movie.

Two State Troopers stood in the doorway of the Assembly floor, essentially denying entry to a cluster of Republicans.

The man in front of the group was Erik Peterson of Hunterdon County, who among other rhetorical flourishes, called the whole mess “tyranny.” Others bemoaned the death of “liberty.”

It may be instructive to consider that all in the GOP caucus don’t share these views. Some have said privately that the spectacle is a bit juvenile.

Childish or not, it did have an impact.

The session was supposed to start at 1 p.m, but didn’t commence until around 3:40 p.m.

And when it did, Speaker Craig Coughlin said he was “outraged” at Republicans for seeking a “couple minutes on the TV news”  in the midst of a pandemic that has killed more than 800,000 Americans.

The speaker contrasted what he clearly considered a political stunt with the sacrifices made by millions of New Jersey residents. He referenced health care workers and those who have struggled with illness, job losses, business closings and depression.

More optimistically, Coughlin said, “I choose to believe we are better than this.”