Pritzker Skewers Halbrook Over Large Christmas Party
State Representative Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville) hosted a Christmas Party in downstate Arthur last week, which drew over 100 people, none of whom appear in pictures to be wearing masks or social distancing.
Governor JB Pritzker slammed State Representative Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville) after Halbrook hosted a Christmas Part at a downstate restaurant with no masks in sight and no social distancing among the 100 or more attendees.
Halbrook held the event at a restaurant in Arthur last week. Arthur is about 30 miles southwest of Decatur.
Halbrook has been associated with a group of ultra-conservative legislators known as the “Eastern Bloc.” Among the members is State Representative Darren Bailey (R-Xenia), who has repeatedly sued and lost cases challenging Pritzker’s authority to issue COVID-19 related emergency orders.
Photos of the event show more than 100 people in the room, none wearing masks, and many packed together at round banquet tables. A Chicago TV station even reported on the event.
“Shame on him. Shame on him for having people in a room packed together, not wearing a mask,” said Pritzker. “He knows better. He should know better. And if he doesn’t, maybe he shouldn’t be in the General Assembly.”
We asked Halbrook via text Monday if he believed holding the event put people’s health at risk, but he did not respond.
(Disclosure: I worked for an opposing candidate in Halbrook’s 2016 primary.)
Meanwhile, a powerful Chicago Alderman also admitted Monday he had occasionally allowed customers to eat inside of the restaurant he owns. Alderman Tom Tunney called it an “error in judgement,” but Pritzker’s critiques were far less biting.
“I think the Alderman has said properly that it was an error in judgement and I think it was a tremendous one,” said Pritzker.
Pritzker was then challenged why his comments directed at Halbrook were harsher.
“The Alderman admitted that he shouldn’t have done it. But Brad Halbrook, he’s been caught. Do you think he’s admitting it? No. Do you think he’s taking any responsibility? He has 100 people together in a space. He knows so much better than that,” the Governor said.
Meanwhile, the state is reporting a 20% positivity rate for COVID-19 in Halbrook’s home county, Shelby County. Halbrook’s cohort, Rep. Bailey, has a similar event scheduled for next week in Effingham.