A committee of lawmakers scheduled to discuss and possibly act on controversial new rules introduced last week by Gov. JB Pritzker never took up the matter on Wednesday morning.
About three hours after a hearing was supposed to have begun, Pritzker announced he was withdrawing his emergency rules criminalizing business owners with a Class A misdemeanor for violating ongoing executive orders.
The Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR), a bipartisan legislative oversight committee that can object to and suspend an administration's emergency rules, was expected to debate rules rolled out last Friday that would have extended Pritzker's shutdown authority through mid October and would have imposed criminal penalties on business owners who violate the state's shutdown orders.
It specifically would have prohibited bars and restaurants from offering indoor services, except for hospitals and airports; it also would have prohibited fitness centers and personal grooming establishments from operating. Rule breakers could have faced prosecution and possible jail time.
According to reporting by Capitol Fax, even though Pritzker withdrew his rules, legislation might be filed that could be even tougher than the rules.
State Sen. Jason Plummer (R-Edwardsville) said Pritzker's action was "a great win for Democracy, the rule of law and commonsense.
"But we still have a lot of work to do," Plummer said. "Thank you to each-and-every Illinoisans who wrote letters, sent e-mails and made phone calls in opposition to the Governor's complete abuse of power. Your efforts are what put a stop to a blatant overreach of authority."