Illinois Leftists Want to Consolidate Power in Springfield (HB 2789)

On Thursday, April 22nd, the Illinois House passed HB 2789, an authoritarian proposal sponsored by State Representative Michelle Mussman (D-Schaumburg). This bill adds an amendment to an existing law granting sole authority to determine whether, when, and under what conditions public and private schools can return to in-person instruction in the event of a public health crisis to the Department of Public Health.

Does HB 2789 include private schools and homeschools? We believe it does. The Catholic Conference of Illinois is lobbying against it. Why? The legislation requires that the Illinois Department of Health "establish requirements by rule for providing in-person instruction at nonpublic schools and public schools..." The phrase "nonpublic schools" is repeated three times in the bill. Our attorneys and policy experts believe that nonpublic encompass all private schools in the state of Illinois -- including home schools.

Take ACTION: Send a message to your state senator asking him/her to vote against HB 2789. If we have learned anything during the COVID-19 lockdown, it is that a one size fits all approach doesn't work. We have local school boards and county health officials who are better positioned to respond to health crisis.

With a few days left before the Illinois General Assembly adjourns for the summer, your local state senator must hear from you. Please! Let them know clearly, but politely, that we vehemently oppose giving bureaucrats at the Department of Public Health Powers in Springfield MORE authority.

This power grab by Springfield is alarming. Listen to this short video alert by young Ms. Kenna: