Dupage Policy Journal

House Minority Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) wonders if Gov. J.B. Pritzker will ever put the residents of Illinois first in state’s battle to gain control of COVID-19.

“For over a year, the Governor cut out a co-equal branch of government and ruled the state with unilateral authority instead of working collaboratively to handle the COVID-19 pandemic in Illinois,” Durkin told WJBC.com. “Governor Pritzker must put this continuing power trip aside and allow local health departments, elected officials, schools and most importantly, parents, to make decisions on these serious issues to help stop the spread of COVID-19.”

Durkin worries the job just became a lot harder with the governor’s move to impose a universal mask mandate for all public and private school students. The order also seeks to require all state employees working at congregate settings like long-term care facilities or veterans' homes to be vaccinated no later than Oct. 4. All teachers and staff members from preschool through 12th would also be required to wear masks regardless of vaccination status.

Durkin isn’t the only Republican lawmaker lamenting that the governor’s approach has been out of step from the very beginning.  

"The governor's continued unilateral, go-it-alone approach on pandemic decision-making actively undermines the state's ability to have broadly accepted mitigation strategies," Senate Republican Leader Dan McConchie (R-Lake Zurich) told the Daily Herald.

In questioning if the governor even has the power to do what he’s doing, State Rep. Tom Morrison (R-Palatine) argues his actions "violates constitutional checks and balances, public input, and local control."

In a statement, he added, "Our local school districts are closest to parents, students, and educators and are capable of deciding what is best for their respective communities.”

Through it all, Pritzker remains unmoved, defending his actions by stressing that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the American Academy for Pediatrics also stand in favor of universal masking.

"My goal has always been to safely bring all kids back into the classroom and, crucially, keep them there,” he said. “Without these measures, we will likely see many more outbreaks."