About 1970, under the Administration of Governor Richard V. Ogilvie, a law was passed bannig open burnings.
It lasted about two years.
Now comes a similar effort to which gubernatorial hopeful Darin Bailey takes offense.’
Darren Bailey: Hands off our campfires!
Louisville, IL — Darren Bailey, former State Senator and candidate for Governor, says just when everyone thought government overreach in Illinois could not get any worse, the far left is pushing legislation to require permits for campfires.
New legislation (House Bill 4459) would require individuals who wish to gather around a campfire to secure a permit and pay a fee of up to $5.
The bill allows counties and municipalities to formulate their own regulations regarding burn permits and set up an online system for residents to find local requirements.
It also introduces significant penalties, with fines reaching up to $100,000 for burning without a local permit and up to $500,000 for burning on designated “no-burn days” without a permit.
“While Illinois families are struggling to pay the highest property taxes in the nation, our leaders are focused on making sure government is involved in your next campfire,” Bailey said.
“We have a budget billions in the red and this is what lawmakers are worried about? I would say JB Pritzker and his allies in the House and the Senate have run out of ideas, but they never had any good ideas in the first place.
“I am committed to ensuring families can better afford life in Illinois.
“My Blueprint for Illinois is about empowering Illinois citizens and ending the culture of corruption in Illinois.
“Campers will be free to gather around a campfire with friends and family, and they won’t have to check with far-left extremist Democrats to do it.
“More freedom. Less government.”
