Punishments for violating Governor’s stay-at-home orders questioned

Posted on May 20, 2020

 

House Minority Leader Jim Durkin sees problems with the punishments for the state’s stay-at-home order.(WJBC file photo)

By IRN

SPRINGFIELD – Either in a committee or in a court, the governor’s emergency rule that could result in Illinois businesses operating outside of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s stay-at-home order facing misdemeanor charges will be challenged, Republicans said.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Monday downplayed the significance of the rule he filed late Friday, saying it’s less punitive for businesses than having their license taken away.

The co-chair of the Joint Commission on Administrative Rules that meets today in Springfield said he will move to suspend the rule.

If it’s not blocked there, House Minority Leader Jim Durkin said there should be a court challenge. “A few weeks ago we saw an overreach with the administration with the work comp commission, and they will suffer the same fate with this rule change,” Durkin said.

He then added the court will throw it out.

State Rep. Keith Wheeler said a Class A misdemeanor is way more than a citation, and it’s not up to the governor what the punishment will be if there are such charges.

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