* Center Square…

Lawmakers question Pritzker’s staff about the ‘grown-up table’ […]

“During this budget cycle especially, seats at the grown-up table will be off-limits to those who aren’t working in the public’s best interests,” Pritzker said.

State Rep. Tom Demmer, R-Dixon, said the lawmakers and the governor should be working together on what’s best for the people.

“This comment that individuals that are welcome at something called a grown-ups table when they are concerned about the public’s best interest, we agree that being concerned about the impact of taxes on Illinois families is in the best interest of the public,” Demmer said.

* Leader Demmer surely knows who belongs at the kids table…

Fed up with mask requirements at the Illinois State Capitol, Republican Representative Blaine Wilhour is suing House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch.

“We’re trying to move the ball forward and we’re trying to ultimately restore some sanity in Springfield,” Wilhour told WGN News. “Why should we have to wear a mask in there when the science is now pretty clear that — especially cloth masks — don’t work at all?”

That’s not exactly accurate. The CDC has said that cloth masks do not offer as much protection as surgical masks or respirators.

The lawsuit comes after a group of Republican representatives who refused to wear face coverings last week were barred from the House floor. […]

“The whole thing is just ridiculous,” Wilhour said. “We made a decision that we were going to not participate any longer in things that don’t make sense.”

Oh, the possibilities for non-participation are just endless, Rep. Wilhour. Heck, folks might even wonder why they’re still in the House if they would stop and think about them, I’d wager.

* More on Rep. Wilhour from BGA’s Politifact…

“For the last year at least, I contend two years, the observed science, scores of studies, real world observations have told us there is absolutely no observed or clinical data that indicates any benefit whatsoever to masking K-12 students in schools,” Wilhour said. […]

Wilhour said there is absolutely no observed or clinical data that indicates any benefit whatsoever to masking K-12 students in schools.

Clinical studies cannot be conducted on this issue because of the risk they would pose to unprotected children, but observational data shows masks are beneficial in reducing transmissions in schools.

We rate this claim Mostly False.

* OK, let’s go to the Wilhour lawsuit. It’s chock full of weirdness…

NOW COMES the Plaintiffs, by and through their attorneys Thomas G. DeVore, and the Silver Lake Group, Ltd., and pursuant to 735 ILCS 5/11-101, and moves this Court for entry of a Temporary Restraining Order without notice against the Defendant, and hereby plead:

1. Wilhour has a right to insist he not be compelled to undergo quarantine, which includes masking, which is purported to limit the spread of an infectious disease, unless Wilhour is first afforded his procedural and substantive due process rights as provided under Illinois law.

2. DeVore has a right to insist his duly elected representative not be excluded from the house floor except as may be authorized by law.

3. There can be no doubt Welch is attempting to compel quarantine upon Wilhour in an attempt to allegedly prevent the spread of an infectious disease.

4. When Wilhour did not comply, his was forcefully removed from the House Floor by law enforcement on February 17, 2022 and is permanently excluded unless he submits himself to quarantine.

5. Wilhour has been removed by force from the house floor and as a result DeVore, and all other citizens of the 107th District, are currently left without representation.

6. Such matters are so harmful and egregious to Wilhour and DeVore, as well as all citizens of the 107th District, that Plaintiffs will be too irreparably prejudiced by waiting until such time as the Court can set the TRO for hearing.

7. The Illinois legislature has delegated to IDPH authority on these matters, and IDPH in turn delegated the authority to certified local health departments.

8. The House of Representatives has adopted this unlawful rule to allegedly prevent the spread of an infectious disease.

9. Welch does not have any lawful authority to demand or require any type of quarantine, upon Wilhour to allegedly prevent the spread of an infectious disease, and certainly not without having first provided the clear due process provided by Illinois law.

10. Welch is not the certified local health department acting pursuant to its lawful authority under 20 ILCS 2305 et seq.

11. Even if the certified local health department desires to seek such compliance from Wilhour, the same can only be accomplished by providing procedural and substantive due process as provided by law.

12. At no time, has any relevant certified local health department taken any action against Wilhour in regard to quarantine by seeking consent or a lawful order of court.

13. Quite simply, Welch is infringing upon the lawful right of Wilhour to be free to choose for himself whether to undergo quarantine for the purpose of limiting the spread of an infectious disease, absent a court order.

14. As a result, DeVore, and all other citizens of the 107th District, are being irreparable harmed by having their representative unlawfully removed from the legislative process.

Forcefully removed by law enforcement?

…Adding… From comments…

Weird, I was watching session last week and didn’t see anyone get forcibly removed. McCombie refused to comply and was allowed to remain in her seat. Also, the journal from that day shows Wilhour casting votes on every matter before the House.

* Speaking of DeVore, I told subscribers about this last week and mentioned it in this week’s newspaper column…

Tom DeVore, the downstate lawyer behind many of the legal challenges to Gov. JB Pritzker’s use of emergency powers in the name of fighting COVID-19, and the main architect behind the successful bid, to date, to undo Pritzker’s school mask mandates, appears poised to seek statewide office, potentially as Illinois Attorney General.

DeVore has begun distributing petitions to supporters to place his name on the ballot in June for the Republican primary election for Attorney General.

That followed an appearance a few days earlier, in which DeVore hinted strongly to his intent to seek the GOP nod to oppose Democratic incumbent Kwame Raoul in November.

On Wednesday, Feb. 16, speaking at a conservative rally in St. Charles, headlined by Turning Points USA founder, activist Charlie Kirk, DeVore drew a standing ovation from the crowd when he began speaking about the need for a Republican candidate willing to challenge incumbent Attorney General Kwame Raoul, a Democrat and ally of Pritzker.

During his remarks, DeVore assailed Raoul for acting as “the governor’s personal attorney,” rather than “the people’s legal counsel.”

…Adding… Rep. David Welter (R-Morris) went back into the chamber…

Welter, who was removed for not wearing a mask, returned to the House floor following the break, this time with a face covering.

“I put the mask back on to comply and came back to do the people’s business,” Welter said. “I was not going to let this statement and demonstration negatively impact the constituents I represent.”

Welter said the statement was to push back against the mask mandate following an ongoing court case that placed a temporary restraining order on dozens of schools and the rejection of COVID-19 mitigation protocols in schools by a bipartisan legislative committee earlier this week.

“Hopefully this sends a little bit of a message that people are done with it,” he said.