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March 29, 2024

Thomas DeVore’ Statement to Illinois General Assembly

By John Kraft & Kirk Allen

On July 29, 2020

Greenville, IL. (ECWd) –

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Greenville, Illinois

Statement to the Illinois General Assembly

Thomas DeVore, Attorney at Law, representing hundreds of Illinois citizens and business owners respectfully seeks action from the Illinois General Assembly on behalf of the people.

Far too much ink has been spilled over the last several months in courtrooms across this state regarding the propriety of efforts taken by the executive branch of government to address matters related to COVID-19.  None of this litigation has served the best interests of the good people of our state, as litigation is never the answer to matters such as these, and should only be a solution when no other viable options exist.

I humbly submit an ever increasing number of our people are growing weary of months long unilateral executive and administrative action aimed at controlling their businesses and now their children.  This has nothing to do with the efficacy of these executive and administrative actions but everything to do with the lack of checks and balances which the legislative branch of government is intended to provide.

On a daily basis I continue to talk to business owners and parents across the state.  The executive branches suggestion of attempting to force businesses closed again by threatening their business licenses has them on edge.  Hundreds of businesses have advised me they can’t afford and won’t close again.  The proposition of children returning to school under compulsory rules being placed upon them by administrative agencies has parents on edge even more.  Extracurricular activies being cancelled is causing great distress to many.  If the General Assembly does not intervene and provide some legislative solutions to these matters, I am afraid our state will be irreparably harmed by the loss of faith, and resulting civil disobedience, which is arising.

To that end, I am imploring the General Assembly to convene and take up these important issues on behalf of the people immediately.  What necessary regulations our businesses as well as our schools might need to protect the public health are in desperate need of your attention.  The legislature is the voice of the people, and I am afraid of what is to come in the weeks ahead without your involvement in crafting wise solutions.

I would advise all my clients to authorize me to stay pending litigation if the General Assembly will please convene and help the people of the state.  Businesses and families are all in desperate need of your immediate leadership.  Please convene the General Assembly.

2020..29.07 Press Release - General Assembly_

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20 Comments
  • Mary Jo Barbosa
    Posted at 21:04h, 29 July

    Love his optomism in thinking the GA isn’t in this with the Gov, Madigan & Lightfoot. They will make no move to help the people in this state…they haven’t helped us in the past, why should we think they will help us now???

  • Tracey Baker
    Posted at 22:10h, 29 July

    OK, first off I applaud Mr. DeVore for his one man show in all this mess trying protect the citizens and their businesses. However I must be missing something here; “What necessary regulations our businesses as well as our schools might need to protect the public health are in desperate need of your attention.”. We have all the regulation we need and then some currently. We need the GA to do their jobs and keep this out of control criminal in check. They need to enforce our laws they swore to protect. Them remove this Prince JB and his Sheriff of Nottingham, AG Kwame Raoul, prefer criminal charges and get some jail time. Then go after the crony IDPH and IPS directors for the same. These people knowing broke and continue to break the law despite having been told otherwise by a court of law.
    The above statements may seem to come from Bizarro World for some people, but the damage done is already irreparable in some cases. People have lost everything and some have literally lost their lives to suicide. These do nothing Illinois Representatives on any side are just as culpable as the Governor. They should have been the ones leading this charge not Thomas DeVore. It was in their power for they know what the law says or at least can maybe read the law like the rest of us who have known about this for the past 3-4 months.
    I realize that the legal/political arena has its proprieties to follow but I think we, the citizens, are sick and tired of the Illinois status quo and the real fight has already begun it looks to be messy.

  • PK
    Posted at 22:34h, 29 July

    Consistent. Logical. Mindful. Upbeat.

  • Anita Sweater
    Posted at 00:10h, 30 July

    Enough. Very bad idea to tell them we need them to do anything. They are criminals and NOT going to do anything in anyone’s best interest. We don’t need any more of their filthy laws. They are ALL lawbreakers NOT lawgivers. To Hell with them and their useless promises.

  • Llewellyn Daniel, Jr.
    Posted at 01:47h, 30 July

    We have executives manage emergencies because committees are unsuitable. They’re unsuitable because they tend to put politics ahead of the public good. Which is exactly why this author seeks a committee to seize control from the governor. He wants a political policy instead of a public health policy. Because he wants people to have the option of sacrificing others to maintain their chosen lifestyle. And that’s bad public health policy.

    • John Kraft & Kirk Allen
      Posted at 05:54h, 30 July

      The governor was never granted the powers he is using, therefore, the legislature would not be seizing his power, but merely following the law as established

    • Aaron
      Posted at 07:19h, 30 July

      The “chosen lifestyle” is individual liberty and freedom from tyranny, Move to China id you want to be told what to do by fat cats and criminals.

    • PK
      Posted at 08:08h, 30 July

      Good grief. That’s simply a misinformed opinion, sir.

    • Mary Jo Barbosa
      Posted at 08:31h, 30 July

      The GA wrote an explicit law for the IDPH regarding the management of epidemics and it didn’t give the power to the Governor except for the FIRST 30 DAYS.. After that the power to “manage” epidemics lies with the IDPH and all the county & municipal Depts. of Health, no one else. He is ursurping their power. So either the GA enforces the law as written, it is in plain English and very succinct, or they re-write it. I suggest you read it yourself.

    • Stacy
      Posted at 12:11h, 30 July

      Except that the law never gave the Executive Branch the power to manage public health emergencies. It gave the Executive Branch 30 days to get their ducks in a row. After that, local health departments take the reigns. And sacrificing others? Lol. Staying home was always an option if you feel that is your best means of staying safe. Others can make their own decisions. That’s why this is the U.S.A. and Pritzker is, sadly, why it’s not feeling like the U.S.A. lately.

  • Golden Country
    Posted at 06:39h, 30 July

    I am astounded at the Nativity of individuals who think that unelected state bureaucrats act in the public’s best interests. They act at the direction of political forces limited by the statues..
    It is important that the legislature weighs in on this issue instead of sitting on the side lines. But unfortunately given the lopsided control of this state by Chicago politicians my opinion is that what ever is decided wont be in the best interest or reflect the will of downstate counties.
    The key is to managing this public health issue is to let individual counties decide what is int he best interest of their constituents.. The Governor should be assisting with information and resources not issuing edicts telling individuals what to do. and withholding public funds from schools, counties and other organizations for failure to follow his or her demands.
    You can see what is happening. The governor knows he cannot make individuals wear masks and he cannot create criminal laws for failing to do so. So now business and schools are being exhorted to enforce this policy for him.

  • jannie
    Posted at 08:19h, 30 July

    I find this whole thing ironic to think the state government had shut up business for reasons that benefit them (governor or AG or “government), Business provide “pass through taxes” sales tax which is important to both local & state government. So, why do we have no shirt, no shoes — public health. I wonder if the Republican governors who are now trying to protect their citizens in TX & Fl & other hotbeds are getting the same flack. Well. keeps lawyers in business.

    • Stacy
      Posted at 11:40h, 30 July

      They shut up businesses because they were told to do so, because they are grasping at straws doing everything in their power to ensure Trump loses the election. Except that people with half a brain can see that they are the problem, not Trump. The virus has already proved to not cause the mass casualties originally predicted. 99.96% of people survive. The majority of deaths came from nursing homes. Nursing home residents are vulnerable to ALL illnesses including the common cold. That’s why we stayed away from my Grandparents if we were sick when they were alive!

    • Stacy
      Posted at 11:45h, 30 July

      Also, the Governors in Florida and Texas never imposed the very strict and long lasting lockdowns we had here in Illinois. The Florida Governor issued an executive order that schools must fully open! Because he understands that our children’s education is important and shouldn’t be sacrificed over a virus with a 99.96% survival rate!

  • Mags
    Posted at 08:44h, 30 July

    The legislators have not addressed this because those who are up for re-election come November that if they support this Governor, they will lose the election in November. If the Democrats abide by the Illinois Law they will be undermining Pritzker (which is not what Democrats do – they stick together) – they know if they change the Legislation to support this lawlessness – their political career is over. Thus they have sat on the sidelines collecting a bloated salary.

    The Republicans are another story. They don’t know how to win. They acquiesce to the Democrat Bully Pulpit and there are several who are Never Trumpers (they must be swamp dwellers themselves) – so this is where we are in this matter. They too know that if they chose either route they will have a hard time being re-elected.

  • Dave
    Posted at 08:58h, 30 July

    Billionaire Pritzker doesn’t care if he bankrupts businesses, he is filthy rich. Many of those so-called non-essential businesses won’t survive, its very sad.

  • Dwight Kay
    Posted at 11:22h, 30 July

    I have a lot of respect for Mr. Devore. But imploring the Illinois General Assembly to do anything for the good of the people of Illinois is wishful thinking. Springfield’s leadership will never do anything unless it provides them more power and money. No one should forget that Illinois ruin began 50 years ago and the destruction inflicted on its citizens is beyond repair.

  • Gig48
    Posted at 14:34h, 30 July

    I have great respect for all that Tom Devore has done and is doing. I feel our legislators in general are all cut from the same cloth. I’m wondering if the ComEd trickle down will get to many of our elected legislator. Illinois has been ruined by the crooked thugs who have gradually infected the entire state elected officials with corruption. A friend sent me a link to a podcast by John Kass that the only way to survive is to leave Illinois. I would’ve left 5 years ago but I’m not in a position to leave. I post the following as a repeat of “it’s all about control, controlling the public”:
    It’s just a mask.
    It’s just six feet.
    It’s just two weeks.
    It’s just non-essential businesses.
    It’s just non-essential workers.
    It’s just a bar.
    It’s just a restaurant.
    It’s just to keep from overwhelming the hospitals.
    It’s just until the cases go down.
    It’s just to flatten the curve.
    It’s just a few inmates.
    It’s just to keep others from being scared.
    It’s just for a few more weeks.
    It’s just church. You could still pray.
    It’s just prayer.
    It’s just until we get a vaccine.
    It’s just a bracelet.
    It’s just an app.
    It’s just for tracing.
    It’s just to let people know you’re safe to be around.
    It’s just to let others know who you’ve been in contact with.
    It’s just a few more months.
    It’s just some more inmates.
    It’s just a video.
    It’s just a post.
    It’s just an email account.
    It’s just for protecting other from hate speech.
    It’s just for protecting others from hurt feelings.
    It’s just a large gathering but for protests.
    It’s just a few violent protests.
    It’s just a little micro chip.
    It’s just a blood test.
    It’s just a test.
    It’s just a scan.
    It’s just for medical information.
    It’s just to store a vaccination certificate.
    It’s just like a credit card.
    It’s just a few places that don’t take cash.
    It’s just so you can travel.
    It’s just so you can get your driver’s license.
    It’s just so you can vote.
    It’s just mail-in voting.
    It’s just a few more years.
    It’s just a statue.
    It’s just a monument.
    It’s just a building.
    It’s just a song.
    It’s just a lyric.
    It’s just an anthem.
    It’s just a few words.
    It’s just a piece of paper.
    It’s just a book.
    It’s just a movie.
    It’s just a TV show.
    It’s just a cartoon character.
    It’s just a piece of cloth.
    It’s just a flag.
    It’s just a dog at a protest.
    It’s just a clump of cells.
    It’s just a fetus.
    It’s just a religion.
    It’s just a holiday.
    It’s just your guns.
    It’s just the police.
    It’s just the military
    It’s just your freedoms….gone forever.
    And “It’s just” the way they planned it.
    2% of the impassioned can rule over the 98% apathetic.
    It’s not like we don’t see it coming.
    Please America, collectively as a nation of god fearing law abiding citizens of the United States… we MUST FIGHT BACK.
    WE MUST.
    BEFORE ITS ALL GONE and we won’t have the ability to get it back.

    • Lyn P
      Posted at 19:25h, 30 July

      Thank you.
      It’s just the way a society — that struggled for 500 years with millions who sacrificed for the closest to equal and open opportunity seen in history — spirals into historical oblivion.

    • PK
      Posted at 08:48h, 31 July

      Here’s a 1971 chorus from Three Dog Night.

      Just an old fashion love song
      Coming down in three part harmony
      Just an old fashioned love song
      One I’m sure they wrote for you and me”

      The Who with Pete Townsend’s lyric fits here too

      “Just another tricky day for you, fella”

      Cheers!

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