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House votes to remove nine House Republicans from the chamber over refusal to wear masks
Thursday, Feb 17, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller * The Illinois House just voted to remove Republican Reps. Sosnowski, McCombie, Wilhour, Halbrook, Niemerg, Welter, Friess, Miller and Chesney from the chamber for refusing to wear face masks during session. The refusal is a violation of House rules…  Most House Republicans then walked out of the chamber with their evicted colleagues. …Adding… Some videos…
…Adding… Sigh…
So much for Leader Durkin’s pledge to accept the consequences of the vote. Sheesh. …Adding… Republicans requested a caucus. Democrats will also caucus. The House is now in recess for approximately one hour. …Adding… There’s a roll call coming up. Stay tuned…
…Adding… No recorded vote for Rep. McCombie…  …Adding… Devore’s gonna do what he’s gonna do…
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- Bert - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 1:46 pm:
If you’re going to act like a child you deserve to be treated like one.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 1:47 pm:
Durkin’s floor speech should be revisited.
It was one of his better/best speeches to decorum and understanding bipartisanship.
That’s a flash of the Durkin I know.
- Former Merit Comp - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 1:50 pm:
These are the people who get colonoscopies, mammograms, prostate exams and gave their kids all mandated vaccinations so they could attend school, all of which are much more uncomfortable than wearing a mask. These tantrums are getting tiresome.
- What's the point? - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 1:53 pm:
Who knows how many people were killed by these nine not wearing masks like every democrat at a party or sports event.
- Arsenal - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 1:54 pm:
==Who knows how many people were killed by these nine not wearing masks like every democrat at a party or sports event. ==
I’m not sure that one person’s bad behavior requires another person to behave badly, too.
- Blue Dog - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 1:54 pm:
Children.
- Candy Dogood - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 1:55 pm:
All Rep. McCombie needs to do to stay is put on a face mask.
She’s not taking a stand for anything other than her own self importance. She’s not there to serve Illinois. She’s there to aggrandize herself. She is there to see attention and throw tantrums rather than to follow the proceedings of the Legislature which she was elected to serve.
- here we go - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 1:56 pm:
Rep Tony McCombie has become the queen of misinformation. I live in NW Illinois and am appalled that voters elect someone who misrepresents facts about bills and issues repeatedly so she can grandstand to the fringe right radicals; This is nothing more than a stunt to get on FOX national news tonight - guarantee a stunt to catapult her ahead of other fringe right wing radicals trying to win over the far right. Time to go, McCombie - out of this House and out of elected office.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 1:57 pm:
McCombie led a coup against Durkin.
It failed.
Failed coups rarely end well.
McCombie is doing McCombie things.
- NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 1:58 pm:
I’m surprised they’re even having session today considering the snow and ice storm in Springfield and central Illinois today. I thought they would have decided yesterday to cancel until after the holiday weekend due to the weather.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 1:58 pm:
=== Who knows how many people were killed by these nine not wearing masks…===
So, I guess *your* point is… masks work.
Thanks for dropping by.
- Candy Dogood - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 1:59 pm:
===Failed coups rarely end well.===
The GOP is all about ignoring coups and preventing there from being any consequences for the ring leaders of them these days.
If Durkin is the leader of his caucus, he hasn’t been acting like it for a long, long time.
- ponderings - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 1:59 pm:
== - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 1:47 pm:
Durkin’s floor speech should be revisited ==
Agree. That was the old Jim Durkin. The guy who took over and made the House Republicans relevant back then.
My opinion is that members probably shouldn’t have to wear mask on the floor at this point. But the issue here isn’t really masks. It’s following the Constitution that each member swore to uphold. That Constitution gives the House the exclusive right to craft its own rules and the exclusive right to enforce them. By choosing not to follow the rules - even if she disagrees - she is violating her oath. I support her right to protest wearing a mask and she can scream all she wants. When your colleagues vote to have you removed and give you a doorman a hard time, you’re not being a good public servant. You’re becoming part of the problem. You’re perpetrating what happened in Washington DC on January 6th.
- Scholarly State Employee - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 1:59 pm:
Bring on Cutback Amendment #2. Cut the size of both the House and Senate by over half to promote social distancing, public safety, decorum and good government. 29 in Senate and 58 in House.
- here we go - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 2:00 pm:
Furthermore, NW Illinois faces enormous challenges such as creating jobs, retaining young people, attracting young talent for the jobs of the future, building a diverse workforce and any elected official who spends 98 % of the time on immature mask theatrics instead of the real issues does not deserve to be re-elected. Again, out of this House and out of elected office. Let someone serious about NW Illinois represent the people.
- Give Me A Break - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 2:00 pm:
I think I will crash the GOP caucus one day and refuse to leave because I simply don’t think I need to follow them.
- H-W - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 2:02 pm:
There are rumors today that DeVore is about to announce he is running for Attorney General. Perhaps these representatives are just hoping to serve under him by demonstrating their fealty.
- Pundent - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 2:03 pm:
As a reminder, we’ve lost about 36K Illinois residents to this virus. A number that is not inconsequential. Protecting ourselves and others from continued unnecessary illness and death is the least we can do to honor them.
- Jibba - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 2:04 pm:
While I’d like it to have been more, Durkin’s speech seemed insincere to me. The call for hearings on mitigations seemed more like sealioning, and he couldn’t help but to criticize and misname the other side as he called for civility.
- NIU Grad - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 2:04 pm:
Children.
- Curious citizen - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 2:06 pm:
Call me crazy, but it looks like they’re all following the House rules for appropriate attire on the floor. I don’t see why a mask rule is so burdensome (but then, I never understand that).
- huh - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 2:06 pm:
I wonder if the Dem State Reps who were at the Equality Illinois gala unmasked are being asked to leave as well?
- Give Me A Break - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 2:08 pm:
huh, that all ya got?
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 2:09 pm:
===I wonder if the Dem State Reps who were at the Equality Illinois gala unmasked are being asked to leave as well?===
The rules of the House are, you wear a mask in the Chamber, “except”…speaking
It’s a workplace. Keep up.
- Occasional Quipper - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 2:09 pm:
Children on both sides of the aisle. The Republicans should have just followed the rules, and Collins shouldn’t have made a big deal out of it. And where is the Speaker when all this is going down? He may have been able to bring some grown-up perspective and get them back to work, but he wasn’t there. Like Madigan, he seems to be too important to waste time on the House floor for “just session”. So instead of wrapping up quickly, they’re wasting hours because of “masks and safety”, only to push session later causing many to try to drive home when the roads are much less safte to drive on.
- Lt Guv - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 2:11 pm:
==I wonder if the Dem State Reps who were at the Equality Illinois gala unmasked are being asked to leave as well?–
How is that event even remotely the purview of Illinois House Rules?
- thechampaignlife - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 2:12 pm:
Do you job, or get out of the way of those who are doing theirs…and yours.
- Candy Dogood - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 2:13 pm:
You can really tell when people have no good basis for their opinion when they come out of the woodwork with nothing but whataboutism.
But I guess we should just be thankful when the GOP doesn’t resort to “legitimate political discourse” and attack our public properties and public servants.
This is just another stunt from the fascist wing of the GOP.
- Mike K - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 2:14 pm:
===The Republicans should have just followed the rules, and Collins shouldn’t have made a big deal out of it.===
The “Rep. Collins hit me back first” defense?
- Big Dipper - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 2:15 pm:
==How is that event even remotely the purview of Illinois House Rules?==
Because they think Whataboutism is effective lol.
- Real - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 2:16 pm:
I like Rep. Collins.
- Donnie Elgin - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 2:16 pm:
The GA looks like a clown show. They have an abbreviated calendar and instead of doing the people’s work, we get election year political drama. The GOP members are wrong in pushing it, but the Dem’s are also going to look silly when on Feb 28 or some other arbitrary date they revise the house rules.
- Gordon Willis - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 2:17 pm:
“ There are rumors today that DeVore is about to announce he is running for Attorney General. Perhaps these representatives are just hoping to serve under him by demonstrating their fealty.”
Yeah, I heard the “interview” on 97.1 KTFK out of STL at noon. Got the same impression “Big Announcement” on Feb 28th.
Tommy Boy will get sunk over his Facebook “window lickers” post from a few years ago. That was his characterization of Special Needs students.
- Omay - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 2:17 pm:
Children should be outside playing in the snow today, not on the House floor disobeying rules and throwing tantrums. By they way take their temperatures on the way back into the House.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 2:19 pm:
=== misname the other side===
Durkin’s continued use like that is “sigh-worthy”
The rest is where I can stay with him, if he wants actual civility, decorum, and a working relationship.
I believe Durkin, as an individual and leader, outside the caucus constraints, wants all three.
- Norseman - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 2:20 pm:
You can’t take Durkin seriously. He talks about civility as his members refuse to act civilly by wearing masks intended to prevent the spread of a deadly disease. As for having hearings, he doesn’t want serious dialogue about mitigations. He wants to give his extreme members a venue for their dog and pony show. Bravo to the Dems for not giving him that opportunity.
Now if you can’t wear a mask, get off the darn floor and let folks go back to the peoples business.
- NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 2:21 pm:
==Children should be outside playing in the snow today, not on the House floor disobeying rules and throwing tantrums.==
And State Employees in Springfield today should be allowed to go home early today as it’s a blizzard out there. Even though they’ll still have to drive in the snow but it will only get even worse later.
- BTO2 - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 2:21 pm:
The antic is old and boring but I suppose they really don’t have anything else besides masks this session.
- Anon221 - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 2:22 pm:
Caulkins didn’t participate in the daily tantrum??? After literally throwing his mask down a couple of days ago??? Is he taking a self-imposed “time-out” (except to press No) in this foolish drama the IGOP keeps reenacting every day of session??? Think I’ll pop some more popcorn and wait for his answer “off air”.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 2:22 pm:
So I’m clear, I also believe Durkin wants a lowering of the temperature, but some of the ways to get there are also theatre, and might be better if the House and the Senate can get to 60 and 30 on their own masking issues for the state as February 28th approaches
- Batavia Barry - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 2:22 pm:
===I wonder if the Dem State Reps who were at the Equality Illinois gala unmasked are being asked to leave as well?===
The rules of the House are, you wear a mask in the Chamber, “except”…speaking
It’s a workplace. Keep up.
Right, but in another week it will be ok when the mandate ends. What a facade. LOL So the disease can only spread in a work setting but not at a social event?? I guess if the Super Bowl was considered a work event and not a social event the virus would spread, Stop the phoniness.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 2:23 pm:
===Caulkins didn’t participate===
He was a remote legislator today.
- PublicServant - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 2:23 pm:
Look out Dems, the path of Devore is coming your way /s
- btowntruth from forgottonia - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 2:26 pm:
“Law And Order….unless we don’t like it.”
- Amalia - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 2:27 pm:
they voted against things that would help people in the neighborhoods where the murders happen. spot on sentiment.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 2:27 pm:
===The rules of the House are, you wear a mask in the Chamber, “except”…speaking===
No.
“to the extent medically able and except as reasonably necessary for eating or drinking, wear a face-covering that covers the nose and mouth”
- Anon221 - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 2:28 pm:
Thanks Rich for the info on Caulkins.
- Homebody - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 2:29 pm:
The “Part of Law and Order Except For Rules We Don’t Like, Then We Throw a Tatrum at the Mere Possibility of Having to Comply with Someone Else’s Rules”.
- Flying Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 2:29 pm:
If a super-minority leave the floor, do they really make a sound?
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 2:29 pm:
=== I guess if the Super Bowl… ===
… which was in (checks notes) California, and had Covid protocols… you might wanna stay on Facebook with your silly rants.
===So the disease can only spread in a work setting but not at a social event?===
Every workplace has different rules.
I mean, some require hard hats, not every workplace does. The rules were adopted by the members.
===Right, but…===
.. it’s not “next week” or part of the rules of the Chamber.
Anything else?
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 2:30 pm:
=== No.===
Thanks for clarifying.
- Flying Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 2:30 pm:
You know, if no one is going to toss papers in the air to really make a scene, it’s really bush league.-
Mike Bost
- Club J - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 2:32 pm:
Tom DeVore sighted in a white Bronco heading north on Highway 55.
- Ron Burgundy - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 2:32 pm:
-There are rumors today that DeVore is about to announce he is running for Attorney General.-
At least a loss there would keep him from a long tenure on the bench this time around.
- Huh? - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 2:34 pm:
I wish the doppelganger at 2:06 would find another handle.
To the post - don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time.
Unfortunately, getting tossed from the chamber won’t be seen as a mark of shame. It will be a badge of ignoble honor.
- TheInvisibleMan - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 2:35 pm:
If the ILGOP can’t understand the rules of their own house, perhaps none of them should be on the rules committee until they can go back a few steps and demonstrate they understand the concepts of rules.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 2:38 pm:
=== The rules of the Hilton===
Then your beef is with Hilton. LOL
They have an 800 number for complaining… have at it.
- Ok - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 2:39 pm:
Protests against House rules are invalid while you are wearing a suit and tie.
Wear Zubaz during your mask protest or don’t bother even tweeting about it.
- Commisar Gritty - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 2:39 pm:
At risk of violating the civility clause WHAT WHINY BABIES OH MY GOD.
- Dryer Sheets - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 2:40 pm:
Someone should ask Durkin about Rick’s decorum after caucus.
- Dryer Sheets - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 2:40 pm:
Reick*
- Club J - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 2:41 pm:
*** There are rumors today that DeVore is about to announce he is running for Attorney General.-****
I’ve heard that too. He better toughen up then. He’ll be called a lot worse than grifter in a statewide election. Welcome to Chicago Tommy.
- Arsenal - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 2:42 pm:
==but the Dem’s are also going to look silly when on Feb 28 or some other arbitrary date they revise the house rules. ==
I don’t see why. That a rule might get changed at some unspecified point in the future (which is true of all rules) doesn’t mean you don’t enforce the rule in the present.
==The rules of the Hilton (from the Hilton website) are==
…not something the Illinois House of Representatives can enforce, nor something recognized as an exception to the Illinois House of Representatives’ rules.
“They broke some rules so I should get to break some rules, too” makes no sense.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 2:43 pm:
=== My issue is with hypocrisy===
It’s actually not, it’s with Hilton not telling their Sergeant at Arms to expel folks.
See how ridiculous that sounds.
It is ridiculous that the Equity Illinois Gala had such pictures and it’s event the way social media is.
The realty here is there’s a rule for this workplace, passed, and turning to be unforced.
The only “same” is you calling Hilton now
- Arsenal - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 2:44 pm:
==My issue is with hypocrisy.==
Then OW is right, you should be telling Hilton to enforce it’s rules.
- vern - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 2:45 pm:
This might be a good time for McCombie to reconsider her beliefs on appropriate consequences for noncompliance with police orders.
- Lincoln Lad - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 2:46 pm:
We seem to live in a world where rules no longer matter…
- Big Dipper - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 2:52 pm:
== I guess if the Super Bowl was considered a work event and not a social event the virus would spread, ==
Last time I checked the Superbowl wasn’t held here. Just like the White House party for Amy Coney Barrett.
- TheInvisibleMan - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 2:54 pm:
I gotta say, this is why I like this site so much. It covers things in a way that prompts me to look into more specific details on what is going on in real time.
Without this story, I never would have just spent the time to find and then read through the 62 pages of the rules of the house of representatives of the 102nd general assembly.
I consider reading time well spent.
https://www.ilga.gov/house/102_House_Rules.pdf
- Fayette County - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 2:56 pm:
Devore running for Attorney General would be fun to watch. He would get alot of attention (which he seems to need) but I don’t think it will be the attention he wants. Bailey on the Governor ballot with Devore as AG would be a positive for the Democrats.
- Big Dipper - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 2:58 pm:
==The rules of the Hilton (from the Hilton website) are: In accordance with CDC guidelines, we require face coverings in all indoor public areas of our hotel for guests and Team Members. We appreciate your understanding and look forward to serving you.==
Yes and the rules of the Sangamon Circuit Court require proper mask wearing in court and yet Grischow didn’t. We can play this game all day.
Keep up.
- simple mind - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 2:59 pm:
A super minority plays to their base. Is it unexpected and thought to be bad behavior? In view of the actions of school boards in face of the TRO and the action of the JCAR they likely think it is the next front in their “war for freedom.”
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 3:00 pm:
===I gotta say, this is why I like this site so much. It covers things in a way that prompts me to look into more specific details on what is going on in real time.===
It’s the 800lb gorilla. Unmatched.
===Just like===
All respect intended. Sincerely.
It’s about the House, it’s rules, and how “each side” wants the rules, first, seen to a prism favorable, and a workplace issue that is in the middle of a once a century global pandemic.
The show business is part of the price of admission to seeing the sausage being made here.
- Big Dipper - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 3:04 pm:
What you call hypocrisy others recognize as Whataboutism. Please focus on the current topic.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 3:04 pm:
===Just pointing out the hypocrisy of Democrats across the country. Lifting the mandate in Illinois on the 28th is “political science”.===
The governor explained the rationale to the 28th
Can you point to where the rationale, specifically, is as you say? Hospitalizations? Infections? Take your time.
===I guess the rest of the States that have lifted their mandates===
(Sigh)
We are discussing the Illinois House, it’s rules, and following them.
Stay with us on this
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 3:09 pm:
===but in another week it will be ok when the mandate ends. What a facade===
Goodness, you’re stupid. The reason the deadline was set several days down the road is because hospitalizations are rapidly declining and will likely be at a very good level by the end of the month.
Also, the word your pea brain was searching for was “charade.”
- TripleMask - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 3:14 pm:
I just pray these 9 individuals learn to follow the science. Think of how much better Illinois is doing than The red states in infection rates and death counts.
- Moved East - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 3:14 pm:
I officiate basketball in the western burbs. Some schools have gone “optional.” These are not red districts, these are purple to even blue districts. “Optional” was taken as 0% of players and school personnel wearing masks. Maybe 10% of the crowd was wearing one. I took grief because I kept my mask on. I am not talking science here, just politics. Maybe the politics demonstrates that the Dems should just let the mask go. You can argue the science all you want, but the vast majority does not care and has moved on to breathing maskless forever.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 3:18 pm:
===forever.===
Still waiting for folks to show where anyone, official or not, has made “forever” a mandate on anything in this pandemic.
First it’s…
“They keep changing the rules”
Now it’s
“Forever”
The reason we have 900,000 deaths isn’t the confusions to what can help or how to help society, it’s about those refusing to help promote the general welfare of all Americans and our collective health in our society.
Now it’s House rules in this instance.
- The Velvet Frog - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 3:19 pm:
==the vast majority==
Sorry but I don’t define “the vast majority” as people attending basketball games at a handful of schools. Our local district is “optional” for now because of the lawsuit (and has said they will revert if it is overturned). And the vast majority of kids in these schools are still wearing masks.
- Arsenal - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 3:19 pm:
==You can argue the science all you want, but the vast majority does not care and has moved on to breathing maskless forever. ==
And yet, the science will remain whatever it is, regardless of how popular or unpopular our reaction to it is.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 3:24 pm:
=== has moved on to breathing maskless forever===
Forever is a long time, particularly for the careless.
- Moved East - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 3:25 pm:
I get to the schools when many students are still there. Not sure about your district, but I am telling you around 5 percent of all students I see have masks. When they get to the court it is 0. I understand that both of our observations are anecdotal, but good politics is taking the anecdotal, seeing if it is a trend, and then exploiting that trend. The GOP is on the right side (politically not morally or scientifically) of that trend. Just saying.
- Demar4MVP - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 3:25 pm:
=Still waiting for folks to show where anyone, official or not, has made “forever” a mandate on anything in this pandemic.=
Anyone who is paying attention knows that COVID-19 is not going to be eliminated. So there will continue to be spikes likely every flu season. When the Governor says masking children is a critical part of our toolkit to “keep kids in school” (although much of the country/world has managed to keep kids in school without mandatory masking) that implies masking school children, if up to the Governor, will be with us “forever.” He’s also supplied no metric for lifting the mandate in schools even with the broader mandate scheduled to be lifted .
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 3:29 pm:
===that implies masking school children, if up to the Governor, will be with us “forever.” ===
The word “implies” is doing a great deal of your lifting.
===He’s also supplied no metric for lifting the mandate in schools even with the broader mandate scheduled to be lifted===
Vaccinations? Have you checked what was said during that announcement?
If you’re claiming all, check back to that announcement.
Thanks.
- Pundent - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 3:31 pm:
=masking school children, if up to the Governor, will be with us “forever.”=
The governor has done or said nothing that would even remotely support this. What possible benefit would the governor obtain from masking children “forever?”
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 3:31 pm:
===around 5 percent of all students I see===
Please submit your actual statistical data to the “around 5%” is accurate.
Thanks.
- Arsenal - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 3:35 pm:
==Not sure about your district==
At my kids’ school, it’s maybe 5% *unmasked*. Same at the school one of my close friends teaches at.
==good politics is taking the anecdotal, seeing if it is a trend, and then exploiting that trend==
Well now we’re anecdote for anecdote, so what’s the trend? We can turn to data over anecdotes- it suggests majority support for masks in schools.
==The GOP is on the right side (politically not morally or scientifically) of that trend.==
And yet, Pritzker is the one ending mask mandates while Republicans whine that it is a political stunt.
- btowntruth from forgottonia - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 3:35 pm:
” I took grief because I kept my mask on.”
And I bet not a single one of the “let us decide whether we want to wear one or not” crowd came to your defense.
With my experiences with those types,they were the ones giving you the grief.
- The Velvet Frog - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 3:37 pm:
==all students I see==
Like you said, that’s anecdotal. And from that you’re assuming a trend. Just because you’re just saying something doesn’t make it true. Just saying.
==there will continue to be spikes likely every flu season==
Yes. But will there be spikes in hospitalizations like we’ve seen? Will vaccinations increase? Will vaccinations improve? Will vaccinations become available for kids under 5?
If you’re assuming we will have masking mandates “forever” that’s an assumption on your part, not anything that came from the governor.
On a related note, NBC (again), WGN, WBEZ, and CBS local news are reporting that the appeal on school masks could reach a decision today. I don’t know if they have a source or if that’s just speculation. Or if one reported that and the others are just jumping on the bandwagon.
- Arsenal - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 3:39 pm:
== that implies masking school children, if up to the Governor, will be with us “forever.”==
He has explicitly said that he needs “a little more time” to end the mask mandates in schools, and that those will end “weeks hence”.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 3:43 pm:
==On a related note, NBC (again), WGN, WBEZ, and CBS local news are reporting that the appeal on school masks could reach a decision todayOn a related note, NBC (again), WGN, WBEZ, and CBS local news are reporting that the appeal on school masks could reach a decision today==
The Fourth District was closed due to weather today. Not sure if that will cause further delay as I imagine they can work remotely.
- JS Mill - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 3:44 pm:
=Children on both sides of the aisle.=
Nope. The ILGOP is the one that can’t do the work. And funny thing is, whether present or not house business goes on and they don’t have the votes.
=The GOP is on the right side (politically not morally or scientifically) of that trend. Just saying.=
You are not politically astute and you are math challenged. The majority of voters support masks. It is just math. The majority are just not as loud and ignorant as the anti mask crowd.
=implies masking school children=
I am not sure you understand what “implies” actually means because he did not imply that at all.
=When they get to the court it is 0.=
Funny, I work in a school district all day and our numbers are much different than yours.
- Big Dipper - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 3:44 pm:
3:43 was me.
- TheInvisibleMan - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 3:44 pm:
…Rep Cassidy is having some fun on twitter
- H-W - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 3:51 pm:
All the political bluster and hay-making now that the pandemic is wrapping up is foolery. Pandemics tend to last 2/2.5 years. Then they recede into obscurity. Some resurface and some do not, but that is the realm of nature. Think of Ebola, SARS-1, etc.
“Human” nature on the other hand is different. Now that we have reason to hope and believe that this pandemic is possibly ending, all the fools are fleeing the (mask) asylum, just so they can prove they are tough and do have to wear masks anymore, and daring any to make them do so. Ironically, they do not. But not because of their ignorance of the facts, nor due to their bluster and bravado. It is “nature running its course” that is now enabling fools to act foolish in public area as. Indeed, it is “nature running its 2 year course” that allows people like DeVore to wait until the pandemic is ending to enrich himself as the pandemic is ending, achieving for his clients what they would already be getting for free if they were wise enough to wait three more weeks.
And then there are the elected cheerleaders, performing karaoke in the last days of the pandemic. How foolish.
- H-W - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 3:59 pm:
All the political bluster and hay-making now that the pandemic is wrapping up is foolery. Pandemics tend to last 2/2.5 years. Then they recede into obscurity. Some resurface and some do not, but that is the realm of nature. Think of Ebola, SARS-1, etc.
“Human” nature on the other hand is different. Now that we have reason to hope and believe that this pandemic is possibly ending, all the fools are fleeing the (mask) asylum, just so they can prove they are tough and do have to wear masks anymore, and daring any to make them do so. Ironically, they do not. But not because of their ignorance of the facts, nor due to their bluster and bravado. It is “nature running its course” that is now enabling fools to act foolish in public arenas. Indeed, it is “nature running its 2 year course” that allows people like DeVore to wait until the pandemic is ending to enrich himself, achieving for his clients what they would be getting anyway, for free, if they were wise enough to wait three more weeks.
And then there are the elected cheerleaders, performing karaoke in the last days of the pandemic. How foolish.
- Ron Burgundy - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 4:09 pm:
-Yes and the rules of the Sangamon Circuit Court require proper mask wearing in court and yet Grischow didn’t.-
I just read them. The administrative order says masks shall be worn… “until such time as the person can safely engage in in social distancing recommendations within the building.”
In my experience there is no better way to keep people six feet away from you than by wearing a black robe, sitting on a bench in a courtroom, and telling people to stay away from you.
- Lincoln Lad - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 4:11 pm:
JB has certainly indicated that an end to the indoor mask mandate is coming… and on that threshold, our Republican reps are choosing to play out this nonsense. They’ll declare that they caused him to do what he has clearly indicated he will do. Game playing is so much easier than governing I guess.
- Moved East - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 4:16 pm:
Oswego, I said it was an anecdote, not statistical proof. By definition an anecdote is “an account regarded as unreliable or hearsay.” My point is political mountains have been ascended for less then an anecdote. To paraphrase the great Sen. Dirksen “An anecdotal observation here, and and anecdotal observation there, and pretty soon you’re talking real political movements.”
- Give Us Barabbas - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 4:17 pm:
McCombie should be ineligible to cast a vote, and should get fined. Calling caucus should have allowed all the GOP protesters to make a graceful exit to the Blue Room, make speeches, and not come back. But Durkin can’t control his own people.
- danray - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 4:21 pm:
Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you your elected officials.
- danray - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 4:22 pm:
golf clap
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 4:23 pm:
===I said it was an anecdote, not statistical proof.===
I was having some fun as you chose “5”, why not, 6, 7, 13? Why? Dunno.
===My point is political mountains have been ascended for less then an anecdote.===
That doesn’t mean that reason or rationale against such things is less, something popular or unpopular or “moving people” isn’t much of a benchmark. If anything, the last school board elections threw thinking to kids safety on its ear for the mask-angry. I dunno what the next election will bring, but polling seems to favor things to keep people safe.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 4:27 pm:
===picture of Pritzker, Welch, and Harmon maskless in Ireland===
None were in the Illinois House chamber in Springfield, Illinois.
Hope you’re not hyperventilating, even without a mask.
- Lincoln Lad - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 4:34 pm:
- but polling seems to favor things to keep people safe.-
Lol, I’m sure that why pols across the country are scattering like cockroaches when you turn on the light. They are looking at the polls and running for their lives.
- Mandates - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 4:35 pm:
The House is not necessarily going to get rid of its rule on masking right when the Governor changes the indoor masking rules. They might or they might not. All the Governor’s change does is give them a choice to get rid of their rule - it doesn’t require them to.
- In Springfield - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 4:36 pm:
They are there because this week is the deadline for bills to be moved out of committee.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 4:39 pm:
===They are looking at the polls and running for their lives===
Yeah, which totally explains today’s vote. lol
- James - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 5:14 pm:
Rep McCombie saying “I’m elected” as a justification for not obeying the mask rule reminds me of Chicago Alderman William Beavers who used the same words as an excuse for (initially) refusing to obey a 1988 Chicago City Hall smoking ban.
Beavers’ eventual compliance with the ban did not retract his own beliefs that he had inadvertently blurted out–that as an elected official, he was not subject to the same laws and rules that apply to others.
There are probably a lot of other Beavers/McCombies in office today with the same beliefs–tho they haven’t yet been outed by verbally attempting to justify their disobedience.
I expect Rep McCombie has earned herself an invitation to appear on Carlson or Hannity one of these nights.
- Norseman - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 5:16 pm:
So they didn’t want to get physical with McCombie so they’re ghosting her. No vote, no speech. The show goes on.
- Roger - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 5:17 pm:
Glad to see the rules are applied. Unfortunately, the Republican Party has become the obstructionist party. I see them as an existential threat to my life, literally. Vaccinated, boosted, masked, and social distancing until this settles down for a longer period of time.
- NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 5:18 pm:
What explains Sue Scherer’s “Not Voting” vote on the board? Unless she didn’t drive over from Decatur today due to the blizzard.
- Lincoln Lad - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 5:26 pm:
The Lad post at 4:34 was not me - the original, and previously only Lincoln Lad.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 5:30 pm:
===was not me===
Someone is hijacking names, it’s obvious, it’s not you, friend.
- thisjustinagain - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 5:33 pm:
Ah yes, the Illinois Republican Party. Like moths to a bug zapper over and over. And they wonder why the Dems manage to stay if office despite the Dem’s scandals.
- Lincoln Lad - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 5:33 pm:
Que sera sera… that will send some of the children to google translate…
- Arsenal - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 5:34 pm:
==Lol, I’m sure that why pols across the country are scattering like cockroaches when you turn on the light. They are looking at the polls and running for their lives. ==
I don’t know what behavior this is referring to. If anything, I’d argue that the major decision makers on COVID mitigation- Pritzker, Lightfoot, etc.- are being a little too steadfast.
- The Velvet Frog - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 7:08 pm:
This afternoon the 4th sent out an email saying to expect a decision soon and that it may be “after normal business hours”. I guess we’ll see if it really goes out tonight.
- West Side the Best Side - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 7:43 pm:
Guess DeVore didn’t think too much about yesterday’s discussion about absolute legislative immunity.
- NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 7:46 pm:
==What explains Sue Scherer’s “Not Voting” vote on the board? Unless she didn’t drive over from Decatur today due to the blizzard.==
Never mind, she eventually voted Yes. Missed the photo of the final tally earlier. Sorry about that
- H-W - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 8:27 pm:
If any are still out there, what are the odds that tomorrow’s ruling is appealed to the IL Supreme Court?
- Walther - Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 9:54 pm:
People will study this comment thread in the future of how mass formation psychosis led to a bunch of people thinking it’s okay to remove legislators from democratic debate because they wouldn’t wear a useless mask on their face.
- The Velvet Frog - Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 5:33 am:
Ruling came during the night and said that the EO expired and the appeal was moot. Looks like that source at NBC was right all week.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 6:30 am:
===…people thinking it’s okay to remove legislators from democratic debate because they wouldn’t wear a useless mask on their face.===
No.
The legislators refused to follow the rules of the chamber… and participated, fully, remotely after.
(Sigh)