A legislative committee meeting Wednesday will decide whether Illinois Governor J. B. Pritzker can extend his authority to shut down non-essential businesses—including churches—for an additional 150 days. Late in the day Friday, May 15, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker issued a new emergency rule by executive order allowing him to continue the forced closure of non-essential businesses as part of the Coronavirus pandemic response, if he deems it necessary.
But the extension of Pritzker’s emergency powers could be stopped by the Joint Commission on Administrative Rules (JCAR) which meets at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 20 in Springfield. A majority vote of the Commission will be required to stop the extension.
Pritzker’s first such order was issued March 21, extended from April 7 to April 30, and then until the end of May. The executive orders are intended to be part of the state’s public health laws and include a section called “Pandemic or Epidemic Respiratory Disease – Emergency Provisions.”
The new rules also criminalize non-compliance with the governor’s stay-at-home order by charging fines or making it an imprisonable offense of up to 364 days for owners and employees of non-essential businesses who violate the order. This could be applied to churches that overstep the rule by having more than 10 people in a gathering. The mayor of Chicago has already announced plans to fine churches for violating social distancing bans.
Concerned Christian Ministries Bob Vanden Bosch is urging Illinoisans to contact JCAR members who will vote on the new rules, asking them to protect the religious liberty of churches and leaders that could be subject to fines and imprisonment, unless the executive order is blocked. He is also calling for prayer to protect religious freedoms of Illinois churches.
Co-Chairman Senator Bill Cunningham (D)
Chicago (773) 445-8128
Springfield (217) 782-5145
Co-Chairman Rep. Keith Wheeler (R)
North Aurora (630) 345-3464
Springfield (217) 782-1486
Senator Kimberly Lightford (D)
Hillside (708) 632-4500
Springfield (217) 782-8505
Senator Tony Munoz (D)
Chicago (773) 869-9050
Springfield (217) 782-9415
Senator Sue Rezin (R)
Peru (815) 220-8720
Springfield (217) 782-3840
Senator Paul Schimpf (R)
Murphysboro (618) 684-1100
Springfield (217) 782-8137
Senator Chuck Weaver (R)
Peoria (309) 693-4291
Springfield (217) 782-1942
Rep. Tom Demmer (R)
Dixon (815) 561-3690
Springfield (217) 782-0535
Rep. Mike Halpin (D)
Rock Island (309) 558-3612
Springfield (217) 782-5970
Rep. Francis Ann Hurley (D)
Chicago (773) 445-8128
Springfield (217) 782-8200
Rep. Steven Reick (R)
Woodstock (815) 880-5340
Springfield (217) 782-1717
Rep. Andre Thapedi (D)
Chicago (773) 873-4444
Springfield (217) 782-1702