Southern Illinois Republicans say Pritzker went ‘too far’ with COVID-19 misdemeanor
Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Monday defended an administrative rule that allows police to fine businesses that violate Illinois’ stay-at-home order as downstate Republicans criticized the move.
The governor’s administration filed emergency rules Friday that say violators could be charged with a Class A misdemeanor if they open before the state’s timeline allows, WTTW-TV reported. The misdemeanor comes with a fine of up to $2,500.
The governor’s attorney told WTTW-TV the rule does not come with jail time because it comes with a fine for businesses, not jail time for an individual.
Another rule in the state’s law about pandemics does come with up to a year in jail for violating quarantine, but the law is aimed at individuals.
Pritzker said the rule gives police a “lighter enforcement mechanism” because it is not as severe as the misdemeanor in the public health law.
“It’s in the law today. It’s in the Illinois Department of Public Health Act,” Pritzker said.
But state Rep. Charlie Meier, R-Okawville, said the governor went “too far” with the rule and said he worries it threatens jail time.
“I find it disgusting this governor will try to lock up mom and pop business owners just trying to feed their families and pay their bills while his family travels around the country and he continues to let rapists and murderers out of jail,” Meier said.
State Sen. Jason Plummer also criticized Pritzker’s stay-at-home executive orders.
“The governor is depriving Illinoisans of their constitutional rights and, when the people seek redress, he is grotesquely using state police power to threaten and intimidate citizens, businesses, and local units of government who dare question or challenge his seized authority,” Plummer said.
Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin, R-Western Springs, said the rule is “an overreach.”
“These rules are a legal overreach and beyond the scope of the governor’s authority. It will be a dark day in Illinois when we charge small businesses with a jailable crime for salvaging their livelihoods.”
State Rep. Darren Bailey, R-Xenia, said “the public has been ignored since he began these series of executive orders.”
This story was originally published May 18, 2020 at 3:45 PM.
