Sen. Sue Rezin | Facebook
Sen. Sue Rezin | Facebook
State Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) says that she is in complete lockstep with the other Republican lawmakers now blasting Gov. J.B. Pritzker over his newly imposed universal mask mandate for public and private school students.
“Agree 100% with Dan McConchie,” Rezin posted on Facebook of her Republican colleague. “For 17 months, Pritzker has continuously issued mandates and executive orders that impact the entire state without input from the legislature or the local officials on the ground. We need our state government to empower and support our local officials to make the best decisions they can for the people they serve, instead of continuously overriding their local control."
The latest executive order from the governor on the COVID front also requires all state employees working at congregate settings like long-term care facilities or veterans' homes to be vaccinated no later than Oct. 4. In addition, all teachers and staff members from preschool through 12th grade will be required to wear masks regardless of vaccination status.
An outraged McConchie (R-Lake Zurich) recently said, "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."
In questioning if the governor even has the power to do what he’s doing, State Rep. Tom Morrison (R-Palatine) argues his action "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.”
Even as criticism mounts, Pritzker remains steadfast, 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."
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