No 'Concentration Camp' Claims From Hinsdale Politico

HINSDALE, IL — Conservative media are accusing a Democratic lawmaker from Villa Park of proposing a bill that would pave the way for "concentration camps" to quarantine people.

The legislation by Rep. Deb Conroy would require the state health department to share its data with local health agencies. It has nothing to do with quarantines.

But websites such as the Illinois Review claim the bill would allow for concentration camps, relying on the law's existing language about quarantines. As a result, Conroy has been the target of death threats, which she released to a Springfield reporter.

Conroy is a Democratic candidate for DuPage County Board chairman. One of the GOP candidates is Greg Hart, a DuPage County Board member from Hinsdale.

In an interview with Patch, Hart criticized the bill, but avoided the rhetoric of the Illinois Review and DuPage Policy Journal. In a statement last week, Hart called Conroy's legislation a "serious breach of trust."

"With respect to the legislation, I have legitimate concerns with patient data privacy rights," he told Patch. "Sharing with county departments is a good idea in theory.

But he said not all health departments have the necessary cybersecurity. He said none of Conroy's proposed provisions address that issue.

"What we need to do is focus on facts. My issue with the bill is privacy," Hart said. "I understand why people are concerned. We should ensure privacy rights are considered when we're making any revisions."

He denounced any threats of violence to public officials.

"I would condemn that kind of language," Hart said. "A disagreement on policy is not a cause for threats. We have too much divisiveness."

Conroy said she wondered whether Hart would condemn conservative media for its claims about concentration camps.

"It is nice to hear, a week after he fueled the flames, Greg Hart now says he does not believe my bill includes quarantine language," Conroy said in an email to Patch.

"Sadly because so many, including Hart, doubled down and did not speak up, my staff and I have endured horrendous abusive emails and voice messages that include death threats and were forced to close the office. I have continuously been called a Nazi," Conroy said. "I am filing an amendment that will spell out very clearly that no one's privacy can be invaded."

Besides the Illinois Review, the conservative DuPage Policy Journal also has made claims about Conroy's proposed language. It said Democratic DuPage County Board members are supporting a bill that would enable health officials to create "Australia- and China-style concentration camps for Illinoisans refusing to take COVID-19 jabs."

The website referred to Conroy's bill as the "concentration camp measure."

Neither the Illinois Review nor the DuPage Policy Journal has returned Patch's messages