The Illinois House voted to remove a GOP state lawmaker for refusing to comply with the chamber’s mask policy.
The legislative body voted to remove state Rep. Darren Bailey from its proceedings on Wednesday over his insistence on not following the guidelines it had recently passed, according to the Chicago Tribune. Earlier that day, the state House of Representatives passed a measure to require members, staff members, and visitors to the special session to wear face coverings over their noses and mouths if they are medically able to do so.
Bailey said he wouldn’t comply with the newly passed governing rule. In response, Democratic Rep. Emanuel Welch made a motion to remove Bailey from the House proceedings after he declined to wear a facial covering, and lawmakers voted 81-27 in favor of his removal from the floor.
Bailey has also been critical of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s stay-at-home order for the state.
“The representative has shown a callous disregard for life, callous disregard for people’s health,” Pritzker said when asked about Bailey. “You just heard a doctor tell you why people wear masks in the first place. It’s to protect others. So clearly, the representative has no interest in protecting others.”
