A lawyer who spoke to business owners at a meeting in Ottawa last night says Gov. Pritzker’s executive orders on the coronavirus are invalid. Thomas Devore explained his rationale, arguing the governor can’t issue such orders and the police departments and health departments can’t enforce them. He says there are procedures that must be followed when making rules and laws.
Some attorneys disagree with Devore. Oglesby City Attorney James Andreoni recently warned business owners there are court decisions in the governor’s favor that aren’t getting much attention.
Devore claims no action has ever been started that would strip a business of its liquor licenses and that the only thing upholding the executive orders is fear of what the government could do. But there may be an enforcement mechanism in the COVID-19 relief grants which require people to agree to the rules, including executive orders.
Business owners who were at the meeting at the Ottawa VFW did not want to speak on the radio. One claims he’s defying the LaSalle County Health Department by having indoor dining at his restaurant. Others talked about getting violation notices or visits from police.
Devore presented figures he says show that bars and restaurants aren’t the virus spreading hot spots Gov. Pritzker and the Illinois Dept. of Public Health make them out to be. He says people in the bar-going age group aren’t getting sick and dying from coronavirus in large numbers. Proponents say closing those businesses or limiting their operations keeps young adults who won’t get sick from spreading the disease to others who will.