Rockford Sun

State Rep. Andrew Chesney (R-Freeport) recently spoke on mask mandate issues on the Illinois House floor.

On Thursday, Feb. 17, state Rep. Lakesia Collins made a motion to have nine Republican colleagues removed from the House floor for not wearing their masks, according to News Channel 20. 

Chesney was one of the Republicans asked to leave. On Feb. 22 Chesney voiced his opinion on the mask mandate for the House floor, calling the decision hypocritical.

"Last Thursday, Mr. Speaker, I was removed for failure to follow House Rule 51.5," Chesney said. "I've seen members on both sides of the aisle remove their face masks during points of debate. I believe this is in violation of 51.5 and I ask that all rules be enforced at all times including members on the other side of the aisle." 

"If we're going to follow the rules, we need to follow all the rules, not just the ones you guys pick and choose to follow," Chesney said. "So we need to wear a face mask when we debate. If we’re going to look like idiots, we got to debate like idiots and we’ve got to do it with our masks on."

The nine Republicans asked to leave were Reps. Chesney, Joe Sosnowski (Rockford), Tony McCombie (Sterling), Blaine Wilhour (Effingham), Brad Halbrook (Shelbyville), Adam Niemerg (Teutopolis), David Welter (Morris), David Friess (Red Bud), and Chris Miller (Robinson). House members voted 66 to 39 to remove the Republicans, but they left on their own.