Prairie State Wire

A state senator asserted that Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Democrats forsook families by amending the Illinois Health Care Right of Conscience Act to prevent it from being used as a loophole to avoid complying with COVID mandates.

Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Louisville) opposes the amendment.

"Pritzker and the Democratic Party have completely abandoned the working people and families of this state,” Bailey tweeted. “He continues to strip individual freedoms and make decisions that should be between an individual and their doctor one that is met with continued government force.”

Bailey advocates vaccines as an effective weapon against the coronavirus but doesn’t believe people should be forced to be inoculated.

“I will always support ensuring vaccines and information are readily available for those who seek it and need it, but I will never support forcing and threatening individuals and families with continued government force,” the senator continued on Twitter. “A few months ago, we called healthcare workers heroes, now Pritzker wants to ensure they can be fired if they don't submit to his tyrannical rule. These never-ending mandates and radical attacks by Pritzker on individual freedom must stop."

The 43-year-old Right to Conscience Act shields health care professional who refuse to perform certain procedures because of a religious or moral objection from disciplinary action.

According to ABC7, Attorney General Kwame Raoul requested that Pritzker urge lawmakers to amend the law so it won't apply to a dire public health crisis such as the ongoing pandemic.

“Masks, vaccines and testing requirements are life-saving measures that keep our workplaces and communities safe,” Pritzker said in a statement, ABC7 reported. “Keeping workplaces safe is a high priority, and I applaud the General Assembly for ensuring that the Health Care Right of Conscience Act is no longer wrongly used against institutions who are putting safety and science first.”