By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois House Republicans have had enough of masks, with several declaring they will be bare-faced on the House floor.

Tuesday, controlling Democrats threatened to remove State Rep. Blaine Wilhour (R-Beecher City) when he refused to wear a mask, then they cut off his microphone when he protested. There was no sanction, and the House adjourned shortly thereafter.

Wednesday, when Democrats again attempted to enforce the mask rule, State Rep. Dan Caulkins (R-Decatur) pointed out another part of that rule – requiring temperature checks for all before entering the chamber – is being ignored. House business then paused so doorkeepers and other staff could take everybody’s temperature.

After the dust settled, State Rep. Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield) says he now knows what local school districts are going through. “There’s rules, we don’t know what the rules are, they change, we are not having any hearings on the rules, we are not voting on them,” he said.

Speaking of school boards, Batinick said the president of a school board whose meeting he attended last week resigned immediately after, citing threats.

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