Protests, posturing and precautions as lawmakers meet in Springfield — with faces covered and fingers crossed

House Republican Leader Jim Durkin confronts protester Brittany Emel about her sign comparing Gov. J.B. Pritzker to Adolf Hitler outside the Bank of Springfield Convention Center on Wednesday. | Neal Earley/Chicago Sun-Times.

As lawmakers returned to Springfield on Wednesday to square away a budget in the waning days of an end of month deadline — and amid a pandemic — some were met with protesters.

Just outside the Bank of Springfield Center, where the Illinois House planned to convene on Wednesday, a gaggle of protesters held posters to “Reopen Illinois.”

Legislators entering the convention center were greeted with chants of “Open Illinois” or cheers if lawmakers sympathetic to the demonstrators waved.

Some said the protests went too far.

Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin, R-Western Springs, confronted a demonstrator who was carrying a sign that said “J.B. Hitler must go,” telling her that it was offensive and didn’t help her cause.

“They should be offended by our governor,” said Brittany Emel, the protester who Durkin confronted.

Senate President Don Harmon presides over a special session of the state Senate on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the Illinois House on Wednesday planned to take up an amendment that would limit the number of people inside the convention center during session. It would also require all lawmakers and staffers on the House floor to were a face covering over the nose and mouth, maintain social distancing, submit to a temperature check and pass through a metal detector before entering.

House members prepare for session inside the Bank of Springfield Center on Wednesday.

The face covering suggestion last week by state House Speaker Mike Madigan came after certain House members, including state Rep. Darren Bailey, R-Xenia, said he wouldn’t don a face covering. Bailey is suing Gov. J.B. Pritzker over his stay-at-home order extension.

Durkin has said he wants his caucus to “comply” with mask-wearing guidelines. But he said it was up to Madigan to make it mandatory.

Madigan on Tuesday proposed new rules requiring all members, staffers and observers to wear masks. Anyone not adhering to those rules would be “asked to leave the premises immediately.”

Lawmakers plan to take up heavy legislation in the next three days, including an appropriations measure, an elections package that would expand vote-by-mail and a COVID-19 aid package.

The Illinois House planned to meet at the convention center, while the Illinois Senate is still meeting in the Illinois State Capitol, both with capacity limits.