East Central Reporter

First-term Republican state Rep. Adam Niemerg (R-Teutopolis) is warning voters at least some of the legislation being promoted in the name of fighting the COVID-19 crisis may be motivated by other things.

“Keep your guard folks, COVID is being used as a trial run into socialism,” Niemerg recently posted on Facebook in reference to House Bill 0062. “This bill just passed through committee. Single payer government-run healthcare.”

Sponsored by Democratic Reps. Mary E. Flowers, Rita Mayfield and LaToya Greenwood, and hailed as health care for all, HB 0062 “provides that all individuals residing in this State are covered under the Illinois Health Services Program for health insurance.”

In addition, the measure would make it unlawful for private health insurers to sell health insurance coverage that duplicates the coverage of the program and mandates that the state set aside funding for the program.