Lawmakers removed from House floor for not wearing masks

The debate over wearing masks has returned to the Illinois House of Representatives.

The House voted to remove nine Republican lawmakers after they refused to wear masks on Thursday afternoon.

The Republicans in question refused to wear masks in violation of House rules. They cited various reasons, including wanting to take a stand in support of teachers and students not wearing masks.

"What about the kids being segregated in schools?" said Rep. Adam Niemerg, R-Dieterich, to loud boos from the Democratic side of the House.

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The House voted to remove:

* Rep. Joe Sosnowski, R-Rockford

* Rep. Tony McCombie, R-Savanna

* Rep. Blaine Wilhour, R-Beecher City

* Rep. Brad Halbrook, R-Shelbyville

* Rep. Adam Niemerg, R-Dieterich

* Rep. David Welter, R-Morris

* Rep. David Friess, R-Red Bud

* Rep. Chris Miller, R-Oakland

* Rep. Andrew Chesney , R-Freeport

Rep. Steven Reick, R-Woodstock, was originally on the list of lawmakers to be removed, but was allowed to stay when he decided to wear a mask.

The motion to remove the lawmakers was put forward by Rep. Lakesia Collins, D-Chicago.

"I am asking you to simply follow the rules of this chamber," said Collins. "That is it."

The House voted to remove the lawmakers in a largely partisan vote, 66-39.

Springfield Republican Representatives Tim Butler and Sandy Hamilton voted against the motion to remove the group while Rep. Sue Scherer, D-Decatur, did not vote on the matter.

"I really do not like to entertain buffoonery," said Collins.

The event is reminiscent of when Sen. Darren Bailey, R-Xenia — then state representative — was removed from the House floor in May 2020 for not wearing a mask. Bailey is now running for governor.

Lawmakers loudly clapped and booed each other as they debated whether to move forward with removing people from the chamber.

House Republican Leader Jim Durkin, R-Weste, asked both Republicans and Democrats to act with "civility" during debate.

"I'm not sure how we got here," Durkin said.

Rep. Tony McCombie, R-Savanna, was among the lawmakers that were told to leave the House chamber, though she did not immediately leave along with other lawmakers.

"Mind your own business, mitigate your own risk," said McCombie during debate.

McCombie was not removed from the House, instead she remained in the chamber without a mask for the rest of the day. She did not participate in a later vote appointing a new legislative Inspector general.

Most of the other members of the group that refused to wear masks joined the session later via Zoom.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect that Rep. Sue Scherer did not vote on a measure to remove House members from the floor.

Contact Andrew Adams: aadams1@gannett.com; (312)-291-1417; twitter.com/drewjayadams.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Illinois mask mandates: Lawmakers removed for refusing to wear masks