Arbitrary Virus
This virus has skills. It can do math, keeps a calendar and discriminately decides which businesses it will target.
Here is the latest update:
- 84 Million Workers Face Jan 4 Deadline For Vaccine Mandate.
The Biden administration has released the new rule from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) that will require employers with 100 or more employees to put vaccine requirements in place for all staff or face fines of up to $14,000 per violation. Workers who are not vaccinated are required to submit a weekly negative COVID-19 test and are also required to wear masks when on the job. Health care workers do not have the testing option.
- Illinois Healthcare Right of Conscience Legislation doesn’t take effect until June 1, 2022.
So, if you were planning on refusing the vaccine under the 1977 version of the Act, you will be protected from contracting and spreading the virus until May 31. Just to clarify.
I will continue to update you on the changing goal posts going forward.
Dishonesty, Despotism and Ignorance on Full Display
The Illinois Health Care Right of Conscience Act (HCRCA) of 1977 prohibits discrimination against anybody who chooses not to receive any particular form of health care services that are contrary to his or her conscience. Predictably, HCRCA is being used by those who are at risk of losing their jobs because of their opposition to COVID vax mandates, and action in the courts has been going their way.
That makes Gov. JB Pritzker and his allies in the General Assembly unhappy. They want mandate resisters punished. HCRCA is getting in the way of that, so they want it amended.
They turned to Rep. Robyn Gabel (D-Evanston) to carry their bill, which she sponsored, to strip the right to object to COVID vax mandates under HCRCA. But Gabel couldn’t even answer the simplest of questions about her bill. She repeatedly had to turn to her aide and was often unable to repeat, in an intelligible fashion, what her aide was saying.
Gabel kept insisting that her bill “merely clarifies the well-established intent of the original law.” How does a legislature clarify the intent of a legislature from decades earlier? It can’t. The original intent is what it is. The purpose of the amendment is obviously to change the law. It’s just that its supporters are being dishonest, so they won’t say that directly.
Public Health Crisis?
Without even so much as a public hearing, Gov. JB Pritzker signed an executive order Monday classifying ongoing gun violence in Illinois as a public health crisis and announced his intent to include greater funding for violence-prevention initiatives in upcoming budgets.
All told, Pritzker’s office said the state has invested $507 million in violence prevention, diversion and youth employment programs for the current fiscal year, including $125 million funded through the federal American Rescue Plan Act.
Arroyo Guilty
A former Democrat Illinois state lawmaker from Chicago pleaded guilty Wednesday to a federal wire fraud charge in connection with a 2019 bribery scheme aimed at advancing gambling legislation in Springfield.
Ex-state Rep. Luis Arroyo, a Democrat who represented Chicago’s West and Northwest sides in the Illinois House for 13 years, admitted to offering a bribe to state senator Terry Link to help advance a bill benefiting the sweepstakes industry.
While a member of the Illinois House, Arroyo had a side gig as a lobbyist for a company that operates “sweepstakes” machines, an unregulated industry that operates similarly to video gambling. Arroyo admitted Wednesday that he offered Link a monthly $2,500 bribe to induce him to push the legislation on behalf of one of Arroyo’s sweepstakes clients.
Ethics reform anyone? The Legislative Inspector General vacancy in just a few weeks would be an excellent place to start.
On A Lighter Note
Take A Hike!
Illinois Helps America Move Around
Petroleum – in Latin “rock oil” – when refined provides us more than just the fuel to get around in our automobiles. It is the base for so many other products. And it isn’t going away anytime soon. Its concentrated power cannot easily be replaced and it is necessary for the production of plastics, modern clothing, and more.
Illinois should be proud of the refineries in this state, instead of having an adversarial relationship with them. I am proud of their work. This is a fantastic video from Chris Wright of Liberty Oilfield Services called “Thank You Northface” that puts the power of oil and its contributions to our world in context. Enjoy!
Shh… don’t tell the Environmentalists, but 100% of raw product coming in and finished product going out is moved via pipeline. They have been transporting this way for years with no problems.
We are Here to Serve You
As a state representative, my office is available to assist you with any issues you may have when interacting with a state agency. Whether you need help with unemployment claims, getting a FOID card, renewing your driver’s license or resolving a tax problem, we are here to serve you.
Oftentimes, some of the best legislation comes from people who see where the law is unworkable or simply unfair.
If you have ideas on how the state of Illinois could improve, let’s sit down and discuss if a legislative fix is needed.
Please call our office at 618-546-0044 to get help or schedule an appointment to see me.
The office is located at 211 S. Cross St., Robinson and is open Monday-Friday from 9 am to 4 pm.
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