* HB4080, sponsored today by Rep. Adam Niemerg (R-Dieterich)…
Amends the General Assembly Operations Act. Provides that the wearing of masks shall not be required for any member of the House of Representatives, or the staff thereof, while present on the floor of the House of Representatives. Provides that any such rule or provision of law mandating the wearing of masks on the floor of the House of Representatives is void. Effective immediately.
* HB4081, sponsored today by GOP Reps. Andrew S. Chesney, Joe Sosnowski, Blaine Wilhour, Adam Niemerg, Brad Halbrook, Chris Miller and Tony McCombie…
Creates the Vaccine Credential Act. Provides that a unit of local government or the State may not require a person to have a vaccine credential or show a vaccine credential before the person enters a public event or public venue. Limits home rule powers. Defines “vaccine credential” as any written or electronic record evidencing that a person has received a vaccine. Effective immediately.
* HB4083, sponsored today by Rep. Niemerg…
Amends the School Code. Prohibits the State Board of Education, school districts, and elementary and secondary schools from requiring the teachers, other staff, or students of a school to wear a face mask due to the COVID-19 public health emergency disaster declared by the Governor pursuant to the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act. Effective immediately.
Not that these bills would’ve gone anywhere anyway, but the Third Reading passage deadline for House bills was weeks ago. These are purely for right-wing social media pops, and maybe a big story on Center Square.
[Headline explained here.]
…Adding… Oops. Forgot this one sponsored today by Rep. David Friess…
Amends the Interscholastic Athletic Organization Act. Provides that any athletic team or sport that is under the jurisdiction of an association or entity that provides for interscholastic athletics or athletic competition among schools and student must be expressly designated as (i) a male athletic team or sport, (ii) a female athletic team or sport, or (iii) a coeducational athletic team or sport. Provides that an athletic team or sport designated as being female is available only to participants who are female, based on their biological sex. Requires a school district or nonpublic school to obtain a written statement signed by a student’s parent or guardian or the student verifying the student’s age, biological sex, and that the student has not taken performance enhancing drugs; provides for a penalty for false or misleading statements. Prohibits a governmental entity or an association or entity that provides for interscholastic athletics or athletic competition among schools and students from entertaining a complaint, opening an investigation, or taking any other adverse action against a school district or nonpublic school for maintaining athletic teams or sports in accordance with these provisions.
*** UPDATE *** Center Square…
State Rep. Adam Niemerg said Wednesday he plans to introduce a bill that would do away with face masks in the Illinois House and in schools, which drew immediate criticism from some lawmakers even though it has yet to be assigned a bill number.
Hilarious.
…Adding… And now the ILGOP spox wants to get into the act…
People who choose to wear a mask outside are hurting nobody, unlike those who refuse to wear masks indoors. So, maybe mind your own business and let them be, bub.
- RNUG - Thursday, May 13, 21 @ 3:07 pm:
Total waste of time … especially in light of the latest CDC guidance.
- Skeptic - Thursday, May 13, 21 @ 3:09 pm:
“especially in light of the latest CDC guidance.” Plus it prevents putting safeguards in place to get ahead of the next pandemic. Not just futile, but dumb.
- Just Me 2 - Thursday, May 13, 21 @ 3:14 pm:
I will add that frequently members file a new bill after a deadline just to make the language public and easily available, but yeah….these are press pop bills.
- Norseman - Thursday, May 13, 21 @ 3:16 pm:
GQP members continue their war on public health.
- AndyJD - Thursday, May 13, 21 @ 3:17 pm:
Can’t believe Bailey missed out on a chance at performance legislation.
- cover - Thursday, May 13, 21 @ 3:19 pm:
Speaker Welch ought to send these guys a message: release the bills from the Rules Committee straight to the floor and put them up for a record vote. What’s left of the suburban GOP would freak out. Now there are enough far-right members of the GOP these days that the bills might not make the Century Club, but they should be close.
- Skeptic - Thursday, May 13, 21 @ 3:21 pm:
“based on their biological sex” I’d like to see how he codified that.
- TheInvisibleMan - Thursday, May 13, 21 @ 3:22 pm:
The only difference between Halbrook and Bailey is the amount of press coverage.
The democratic side of the isle needs to jump on this and not just the the process be abused.
Submit an amendment to these bills that it is also not required to wipe yourself after going to the bathroom. Or washing your hands.
If they want to ignore basic health and hygiene, then go all in on it.
It won’t happen of course, but a man can dream.
- hisgirlfriday - Thursday, May 13, 21 @ 3:23 pm:
So what does this mean for kids who are too young to get vaxed?
Their teacher can go mask free if vaxed but 3 and 4 year old kids at preschool need to keep wearing them?
- Hmm - Thursday, May 13, 21 @ 3:25 pm:
What does Rodney Davis think of these bills? He’d probably want a voice vote on it.
- The Failing New York Times - Thursday, May 13, 21 @ 3:33 pm:
Grievance politics Part I lost count at this point…
- Socially DIstant watcher - Thursday, May 13, 21 @ 3:35 pm:
== despite the science==
The science shows there are benefit from mask wearing. It may not be necessary to prevent covid, once herd immunity takes hold, but masks prevent the spread of other diseases.
As if democrats are the only virtue signalers!
- Shibboleth - Thursday, May 13, 21 @ 3:36 pm:
=this one sponsored today by Rep. David Friess…”
The trans sports panic bills have reached Illinois.
Thankfully this bill will never have a chance of getting anywhere near law, but these bills still send a message to trans persons that some of those in power don’t think they belong. Trans people in Illinois and elsewhere deserve better than people like Rep. Friess.
- Anon - Thursday, May 13, 21 @ 3:38 pm:
====People who choose to wear a mask outside are hurting nobody, unlike those who refuse to wear masks indoors.===
Uh, the CDC just said that vaccinated people not wearing masks are hurting nobody, outside or inside. So, how about everybody mind their own business and we’ll all be fine?
- wildcat12 - Thursday, May 13, 21 @ 3:40 pm:
I’m fully vaccinated and would have happily thrown every mask I own in the trash the moment those guidelines were released if I could (I know rules for work and public will take a little bit to catch up, and I intend to respect that). But people should consider that those who want to continue wearing masks aren’t “virtue signaling” but are likely dealing with the intense anxiety this past year has caused us all. Let’s just be gentle with one another. Like Rich said, wearing a mask hurts no one.
- Candy Dogood - Thursday, May 13, 21 @ 3:42 pm:
Some people have found that wearing a mask in public has made their lives a lot easier as they no longer have as much unwanted attention or expectations for their emotional investment into conversations at work.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/may/10/the-people-who-want-to-keep-masking-its-like-an-invisibility-cloak
- Rich Miller - Thursday, May 13, 21 @ 3:42 pm:
To the deleted goofs who say these bills fall into line with the new CDC guidance, please learn how to read. Those are for the vaccinated, not children, the not fully vaxed and the zombies.
- OneMan - Thursday, May 13, 21 @ 3:42 pm:
GOP Cacus Meeting
Neimberg: I think that this situation absolutely requires a really futile and stupid gesture be done on somebody’s part!
Fries : We’re just the guys to do it.
Hacker : [stands up]
Baley: [stands up] Let’s do it.
Bluto : [shouting] “Let’s do it”!
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, May 13, 21 @ 3:44 pm:
Hackler is the type who will shame a mask wearer only to find out they are in the midst of chemotherapy and it has nothing to do with virtue signaling but their own health… and then try to joke his way out of it.
Mind your business.
To the eastern bloc,
I remember that the “51st state” schtick was admittedly only for barker-type angry sessions to stir the old, angry, white, rural they represent… ‘cause they knew it would never pass.
Through that prism, it’s really just a comedy act for a captive audience.
- Annonin' - Thursday, May 13, 21 @ 3:46 pm:
We think this is the time to remember these are the small government/local control guys and gals. First the EmptySuit Twins (Ray’s son and Rodney) miss the vote of the ccentury and the GOPie home front launch this mindless dribble
- Paddyrollingstone - Thursday, May 13, 21 @ 3:51 pm:
But people should consider that those who want to continue wearing masks aren’t “virtue signaling” but are likely dealing with the intense anxiety this past year has caused us all. Let’s just be gentle with one another. Like Rich said, wearing a mask hurts no one.
Amen, Wildcat. A little kindness and understanding goes a long way
- Almost retired - Thursday, May 13, 21 @ 3:54 pm:
One could call it political but it is ignorance, stupidity and a lack of caring for fellow Illinois residents. It could be called callous because they positions lead to potential deaths.
- Jocko - Thursday, May 13, 21 @ 4:01 pm:
==how about everybody mind their own business and we’ll all be fine?==
Illinois is only 34% fully vaccinated. On the street, that means the person to your left and right are not.
- Sir Reel - Thursday, May 13, 21 @ 4:08 pm:
Yes it’s predictable. Yes it’s pointless. But remember, these guys are paid by us. What a waste of taxpayer dollars.
- Amalia - Thursday, May 13, 21 @ 4:24 pm:
I’m not virtue signaling with my mask, I’m trying to avoid more potent strains of the virus. and now that we know people are getting sick less from other things if they wear a mask, I’m just going to keep being a mask fashion plate.
- 47th Ward - Thursday, May 13, 21 @ 4:25 pm:
Virtue signaling? I’m not going to listen to Republicans lecturing about virtue signaling. They practically invented the concept.
- SaulGoodman - Thursday, May 13, 21 @ 4:29 pm:
**Speaker Welch ought to send these guys a message: release the bills from the Rules Committee straight to the floor and put them up for a record vote. **
I actually love this idea.
- M - Thursday, May 13, 21 @ 4:35 pm:
I would be curious to see the total number of kids absent due to illness this year. Anecdotally, I feel like we have had a lot less of the common illnesses seen in schools (strep, flu, common cold, bronchitis) that usually go through the school like wildfire.
Personally, I think masks should stay around in schools. Definitely not everyday but if you come to school with a cough, runny nose, etc., you have to wear a mask. If the flu is going around the school, everyone wears a mask for a week or two to control it a little bit better.
Honestly, adults complain about the masks more than kids do. The only kids I hear complain are the junior high kids and most of them are just repeating things they hear.
- Asteroid of Caution - Thursday, May 13, 21 @ 4:37 pm:
Anyone old enough to remember when the GOP advocated for local control?
- SouthSide Markie - Thursday, May 13, 21 @ 4:44 pm:
McCombie: I think we have to go all out. I think that this situation absolutely requires a really futile and stupid gesture be done on somebody’s part!
Nemerg: And we’re just the guys to do it.
- Huh? - Thursday, May 13, 21 @ 4:54 pm:
Anyone old enough to remember when the GOP stood for something?
- Anyone Remember - Thursday, May 13, 21 @ 5:14 pm:
Anyone old enough to remember when the GOP had members who could win against Mike Madigan? It was decades ago …
- Jibba - Thursday, May 13, 21 @ 6:06 pm:
PTSD from the pandemic is real. Benefits of continued use of masks are real (flu, cold, sinus). And science is real, but since when have the Republicans been advocating for it?.
- dan l - Thursday, May 13, 21 @ 6:11 pm:
I’m going to continue to wear a mask simply because it upsets people like this Hackler bozo let’s be real: that ilk doesn’t smell great and they’re probably carrying other diseases.
- CynicalNotVirtuous - Thursday, May 13, 21 @ 6:16 pm:
I get the updated CDC guidance is a great incentive to get more people to get vaccinated, but it’s also a great incentive for those who elected not to get vaccinated to stop wearing a mask. If the last year had taught anything it’s that the honor system doesn’t work…
- filmmaker prof - Thursday, May 13, 21 @ 8:58 pm:
I’m going to continue to wear a mask because I like the way I look with a mask.
- RetiredStateEmployee - Thursday, May 13, 21 @ 9:36 pm:
Now the antivaxxers are going to wear masks. https://www.vice.com/en/article/88nnwg/anti-maskers-ready-to-start-maskingto-protect-themselves-from-the-vaccinated
- 13th - Thursday, May 13, 21 @ 9:54 pm:
I guess my question how many Dems and GOP member have not got the shoot yet?