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* Background is here if you need it. I posted this Center Square story late yesterday so you may have missed it…
Illinois’ House speaker faces a lawsuit after Democrats voted to eject nine members who refused to follow the chamber’s mask rule. […]
Later in the day, attorney Thomas DeVore, who has a temporary restraining order against the governor’s mask mandates in schools, filed suit against House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, in Bond County Circuit Court. The lawsuit, DeVore said, is on behalf of his state Rep. Blaine Whilhour, R-Beecher City, and himself as an individual.
“Speaker Welch has no authority whatsoever to place quarantine measures on the peoples’ representatives to keep them out of that chamber,” DeVore told The Center Square. “It doesn’t even make any sense.” […]
Welch’s office didn’t immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.
After being ejected from the chamber, ejected members were able to take part remotely when the House reconvened. At least one lawmaker, state Rep. Tony McCombie, R-Savanna, was prevented from voting on a resolution in person. She said her key was removed and she wasn’t allowed to vote.
DeVore said that’s a problem.
“They’re gonna say ‘you put a mask on or we’re going to exclude you from a foundational principle of representing your constituents,’” DeVore said. “They’re playing those games and completely eradicated her district from the process. There’s no way the courts are going to stand for that.”
Rep. Whilhour was still able to vote. He was ejected for following the chamber’s rules. Rep. McCombie was also ejected and then chose to not vote remotely. The House rules were followed, and the rules and the resolution to eject were passed with majority votes. Both members routinely participate in remote committee hearings, by the way.
Also, the Senate routinely denies floor access to all males who aren’t properly attired in a jacket and tie. Maybe that’s why the leader of this crew, Sen. Darren Bailey, has been so dutifully compliant with the rules since he was elected to that chamber.
* Also from yesterday…
State Representative Adam Niemerg (R-Dieterich) along with State Representatives Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville); Dan Caulkins (R-Decatur); Blaine Wilhour (R-Beecher City); and Chris Miller (R-Oakland) defied the Illinois House mask rules and were forced to vote on bills remotely instead of on the House floor.
They are issuing the following statement on what transpired on the House floor today.
“For the third day in a row, we refused to comply with the House mask mandate because of our commitment to highlight the unnecessary school mask mandate and because we are tired of rules and policies that don’t make any sense. This time the Democrat majority followed through with their threat to remove us from the House floor and we were forced to vote on bills remotely instead of in person on the House floor.
At one point House Speaker Emanuel Chris Welch stated that there were more important things to do than spend time on the House floor debating masks. His statement illustrates how out of touch the Democrat majority is when it comes to the frustration of parents across the state of Illinois. These parents are tired of the cruelty brought on their children with these senseless mask mandates at schools. They are tired and frustrated and they want someone to listen to them. What can be more important than the concerns of parents about what is happening to their children?
Our message to Illinois parents is simple. We are listening to you. We stand with you, and we support you. The Democrats are feeling the heat because the public has had enough of the two years of the mandates and the disregard for their concerns. We must be resolved now more than ever to return Illinois to normalcy. We are going to keep fighting for your rights as parents to make healthcare decisions for your kids and we hope you will keep fighting too.”
Such drama junkies.
Rep. Caulkins was out sick yesterday and voted remotely. And being “forced” to participate remotely isn’t exactly an undue hardship. Your voice is still heard and your vote still counts. The rest of it is just patting themselves on the back for disruption. You’ve had your fun. Get back to work.
* Back to DeVore, who is soliciting clients for a new lawsuit…
Is your school district requiring masks on buses stating it’s a violation of law related to the mask requirement on public transportation? Our analysis of the law finds it is NOT. According to [USC02] 49 USC Ch. 53: PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, school bus service is NOT defined as public transportation, and there is no federal jurisdiction in this matter.
We are looking for up to 4 plaintiffs per school district who want to bring this issue before the court for a flat fee of $2500.00
We will not be seeking class certification at this time; instead, we hope that should the court rule in our favor, the school district would let it apply to ALL students.
Should the court rule in our favor and the school district chooses not to allow the ruling to apply to all students who are riding buses and we will offer other parents the option at that time to join the case for a one time fee of $259
Not providing a link to that, but you can find it yourself if you want.
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 10:00 am
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Previous Post: Speaker Welch says Republicans are using House rules to slow down process: “The games stop today”
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And he wonders why JB calls him a grifter. What’s he gonna do once the pandemic is in the rear view mirror?
Comment by The Way I See It Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 10:10 am
If they were given the option to vote remotely, where’s the case here? They have a choice of two options for participating. If they choose neither, that’s on them.
Comment by The Velvet Frog Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 10:19 am
==we will offer other parents the option at that time to join the case for a one time fee of $259==
But wait…there’s more. We’ll also include a “Fire Pritzer” yard sign and a “Freedom to infect others” t-shirt.
Comment by AC Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 10:23 am
Never mind that school buses are routinely driven by seniors. These grifters don’t care.
Comment by markg8 Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 10:23 am
Courts usually don’t weigh in on legislative procedural issues. I’d be surprised if this gets more than a minute of consideration.
Comment by Norseman Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 10:23 am
It’s almost as if the Republicans are looking for ways to be overly dramatic. They must be watching too much Ru Paul’s Drag Race. Perhaps we should make them lip sync for it and do a dead drop to prove they should remain in the chamber.
Comment by Just Me 2 Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 10:24 am
===for a one time fee of $259===
Televangelist, at 3am, grifting, “for a one time fee”
You keep asking if the checks can keep cashing.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 10:25 am
-There’s no way the courts are going to stand for that.-
There’s no way the courts are going to get involved in that. Fixed it.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 10:27 am
===I’d be surprised if this gets more than a minute of consideration===
DeVore lives in Bond County.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 10:29 am
Caulkins wasn’t just “at home.” He was laying in bed. We really need to end remote voting.
Comment by Ebur-floozy Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 10:30 am
Haven’t all of the committee hearings been virtual lately? Where’s the GOP angst over those not being in-person where they can shenanigan over masks and temperature checks? Seems like the GOPers have had no problems representing their constituents remotely in those settings. Instead, they save their antics for the wider House floor theatre. House is just starting now. It’ll be interesting to see what happens.
Comment by Anon221 Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 10:31 am
We should start a pool to see who DeVore is going to file a lawsuit against next. Just picture his staff answering these phone calls. You’d like to file a lawsuit? Your Visa #? OK Your name? Types the name on a preprinted form and throws it in a box. Next. Over and over.
And the Republicans need to stop using the children for their political agenda. They are starting to sound like a grifter.
Comment by Club J Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 10:31 am
===He was laying in bed===
Because he was ill.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 10:31 am
“What’s he gonna do once this pandemic is in the rear view mirror?”
Regardless the era, never, ever, a shortage of suckers.
Comment by Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 10:33 am
People at home sick in bed should lose the ability to vote? Really?
Comment by The Velvet Frog Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 10:34 am
Several R’s are out today including Caulkins (still) as well as a few of the defiers from yesterday including Wilhour.
Comment by Anon221 Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 10:35 am
My district’s rep is one those removed yesterday, and conveniently excused today. Not happy that this drama is leaving my district unrepresented. While I generally disagree with my rep’s stance on most issues, he still needs to be there doing his job.
Comment by DownSouth Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 10:42 am
== What’s he gonna do once the pandemic is in the rear view mirror? ==
“Project Blitz” put out a nice little roadmap of their plans a few years ago, before people started noticing it.
There’s larger things at work here.
Libraries are next, with lawsuits and then bills introduced to enact a “Parental Oversight of Public Libraries Act” as has already been attempted in other states.
Comment by TheInvisibleMan Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 10:43 am
Are they back to using gofundme and other crowd funding sites for this?
Comment by MrMisery Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 10:48 am
Maybe they should show up in cut off jeans and a muscle t-shirt next and see if they get told to leave.
Comment by Publius Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 10:50 am
===Back to DeVore, who is soliciting clients for a new lawsuit…===
I have never seen an attorney advertise for a class action that way. He at least seems to be an innovative grifter.
Comment by Candy Dogood Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 10:50 am
===Libraries are next===
That sent a chill down my spine, Invisible. Definitely going to educate myself on these issues.
Comment by Leslie K Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 10:57 am
=== DeVore lives in Bond County ===
Fair point. I was thinking about a court that actually rules according to the law and precedents.
Comment by Norseman Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 11:10 am
Can DeVore be sued for barratry? Or can someone make a complaint to ARDC?
Comment by Give Us Barabbas Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 11:23 am
Sometimes I think we have all landed in Wonderland along with Alice. The law and order party, the one that wants to show how they are outstanding and upright citizens, defenders of the constitution doesn’t think they need to adhere to the House rules? They go so far as to get removed like they were 4th graders sent to the hallway because they defied the teacher and disrupted the class? Their constituents should be tying up their phone lines, commenting on how they wouldn’t let their own children be so disrespectful of the teacher and principal.
Comment by thoughts matter Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 11:38 am
Ill after not wearing a mask.
Comment by Big Dipper Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 11:41 am
==The law and order party, the one that wants to show how they are outstanding and upright citizens, defenders of the constitution doesn’t think they need to adhere to the House rules?==
Also they are “patriots” yet despise the government.
Comment by Big Dipper Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 11:44 am
==Libraries are next== Librarians are already suiting up for battle. Never underestimate those friendly, nerdy, library loving folk - they can be surprisingly vicious and they are by nature extremely well organized.
Comment by DownSouth Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 11:52 am
If only it was in McHenry County, then maybe we’d get another great line like the constitutional right to fish.
Comment by Fixer Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 12:02 pm
== We are looking for up to 4 plaintiffs per school district who want to bring this issue before the court for a flat fee of $2500.00 ==
Is this what used to be called ‘ambulance chasing’ ?
Comment by sal-says Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 12:20 pm
If you pay me a one time fee of$2500, I will never ask for another donation.
But, I will include this beautiful set of ginsu knives for only $100 S/H
Comment by Bruce( no not him) Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 12:45 pm
==Is this what used to be called ‘ambulance chasing’ ?==
Judging by the open gofundme campaigns it sure is the 2022 version of it.
Comment by MrMisery Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 12:56 pm
If DeVore doesn’t get disbarred for this two year fraud he’s committed, then nobody should be disbarred.
Comment by Commisar Gritty Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 12:58 pm
TO:
- Give Us Barabbas - Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 11:23 am:
Can DeVore be sued for barratry? Or can someone make a complaint to ARDC?
Anyone can file a complaint with the ARDC; it is NOT limited to client involved in any particular case.
Comment by thisjustinagain Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 1:11 pm