Will County Gazette

State Rep. Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield) is calling out Democrat Deb Conroy on a bill that would allow local health departments to "adopt any rules” necessary to combat public health crises.

Batinick noted the bill is unlikely to gain traction toward becoming law.

“It's an extreme overreach of power and will not become law,” Batinick., a Republican floor leader, told Will County Gazette.  

Conroy, a state representative from Villa Park, is the bill’s sponsor. It has received a lot of flak for its totalitarian tone.

Conroy's bill would provide the state the ability to "isolate or quarantine persons who are unable or unwilling to receive vaccines, medications, or other treatments."

Conroy's plan would give local health departments and state legislators formal legal authority to fully regulate the behavior of anyone who does not obey their COVID-19 limits and rules, including isolating and guarding them.

According to the text, local health departments can "adopt any rules" necessary, which might include internment-pike camps, which are now popular in Australia, where anyone judged a risk can be arrested and taken to "isolation camps" where they are held in rooms and fed just once a day.

The bill – HB 4640 – is sponsored by State Rep. Deb Conroy (D-Villa Park). It has been roundly criticized for its authoritarian tone.

Conroy’s bill would allow the state to "isolate or quarantine persons who are unable or unwilling to receive vaccines, medications, or other treatments."

Conroy’s bill would give local health departments and state politicians formal legal authority to fully control the behavior of any individuals who don't follow their COVID-19 restrictions and rules, including keeping people isolated and under police guard.

Local health departments can "adopt any rules" necessary, according to its text which could include internment-pike camps favored in Australia right now where those deemed risks can be arrested and transported to “isolation camps” where they are locked in rooms and given meals one time per day. Three escapees from one camp in Howard Spring were recently “captured.”

Conroy is vying for the position of Chairman of the DuPage County Board of Commissioners.

The bill's severe language, according to political commentators, will hurt her chances of getting elected to the position, which pays about $128,000 per year.

Her yearly salary as a legislator is almost $70,000 before bonuses.

Illinois has some of the most stringent COVID-19 regulations of any state.

Natural immunity gives better protection against COVID-19 than immunizations, according to CDC and Johns Hopkins University research.

Batinick announced last year he would not be running for re-election.