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* Press release…
State Senator Brian Stewart, R-Freeport, and State Representative John Cabello, R-Machesney Park, issued the following joint statement today in response to Governor JB Pritzker’s announcement over the weekend on actions the state is taking regarding the Coronavirus pandemic:
“On Sunday Governor JB Pritzker ordered bars and restaurants closed in the state of Illinois commencing Monday, March 16th through Monday, March 30th as a latest response to the Coronavirus. To bureaucrats and billionaires two weeks without a paycheck is nothing. In fact, the bureaucrats’ paychecks are guaranteed by the taxpayers of Illinois, unlike the cooks, the servers, the dishwashers, and the owners of those bars and restaurants.
The Governor will defend his decision by claiming an “abundance of caution” and citing his “emergency authority”. Under those conditions what is next? Are we going to close the grocery stores, the pharmacies, the marijuana stores, factories, and other businesses? It is noted that the Governor did not postpone the election while other states did so.
In the days after 9-11 and the attack on the twin towers in New York and the Pentagon in Washington DC there was a lot of uncertainty and a monumental crisis across the nation. Our leaders at that time worked to assure the nation that there would be a concerted effort to return to normalcy. Here in Illinois our leaders are seemingly paralyzed with fear and fueling uncertainty.
Real leadership demands a measured response to this crisis. It is pretty clear that those among us who have underlying illnesses and who are in an advanced stage of life are the most vulnerable to the Coronavirus. All efforts should be made to make sure that this demographic is monitored and that their chances of exposure are limited.
Our concern with the Governor’s response to the Cornavirus is that it is incoherent and reactionary and that the trajectory he is on could lead to some permanent damage to the Illinois economy and the confidence of the people of Illinois. We urge the Governor to proceed with the same caution that all of us have been advised to do when dealing with the Coronavirus. Governor Pritzker, please don’t kill the patient.”
* Jordan Abudayyeh in the governor’s office…
The science is clear: in order to protect the health and wellbeing of the people in our state we have to flatten the curve. It is reckless and irresponsible for leaders to contradict the guidance coming from our public health officials. Real leadership requires making tough decisions while working day and night to ensure the people impacted by those decisions have the resources they need and that’s exactly what Gov. Pritzker has been doing. The administration has held briefings and calls for lawmakers to learn about the unique challenges we’re facing and we encourage the skeptics to join those to learn more about the crisis we’re facing. Now is not the time for politics because the only way we’re going to get through this is by working together to ensure every single one of us is doing our part for the greater good.
* Meanwhile…
Ohio’s Republican Gov. Mike DeWine announced that the state would not go forward with in-person voting on Tuesday.
The move follows days of pressure for the four states scheduled to vote on Tuesday — Arizona, Florida, Illinois, and Ohio — to postpone their primaries. In an open letter, more than 1,600 people, including 100 medical professionals, called for the next round of presidential primaries to be postponed amid the coronavirus pandemic. All of the four states scheduled to vote on Tuesday have declared a state of emergency in response to the outbreak. The decision to hold both the Democratic and Republican primary elections — which have closed down schools, restaurants, and bars to try to slow the spread of the coronavirus — could exponentially grow the amount of cases and death toll. In Arizona, the state Republican Party decided months ago not to hold a presidential primary.
The letter, which is addressed to the Democratic National Committee and the secretaries of state for the four states, calls for those states to push their primaries to May. Until then, it reads, “mail-in voting should be implemented throughout under the guidance of health and election authorities.” Postponing the elections would also give states enough time to explore alternatives to in-person voting at a sufficient scale, the letter notes, particularly if the emergency continues to worsen.
The letter is here.
*** UPDATE 1 *** That Ohio thing is not a done deal…
DeWine announced the change at a Monday afternoon news conference. He said his office does not have the power to unilaterally change the voting date, but the governor outlined a process involving the courts that can allow for this change.
*** UPDATE 2 *** Stay tuned to the live coverage post for updates…
BREAKING: Hold on, Ohio's attempt to delay primary to June 2 may not be a done deal…New challenge against move filed with state Supreme Court, plus local judge not guaranteeing an approval
Hang tight, Ohio elections workers…https://t.co/56qUPLCwy9— Darrel Rowland (@darreldrowland) March 16, 2020
*** UPDATE 3 *** Assuming a quick appeal, but not certain…
Judge Frye: Too many factors to throw it to a judge in columbus. So it's DENIED. Unless appealed the election is going on TOMORROW!!!! #coronavirus #ohiovotes
— Laura Hancock (@laurahancock) March 16, 2020
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Mar 16, 20 @ 2:17 pm
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Listen to the experts, listen to your gut: the IL election NEEDS to be postponed or hundred of people will become ill.
Comment by listen to the experts Monday, Mar 16, 20 @ 2:21 pm
“Our leaders at that time worked to assure the nation that there would be a concerted effort to return to normalcy.”
Absolutely ridiculous. The Governor has taken precautionary measures because we haven’t yet reached the point of a crisis…what is clear from looking at other countries and our own healthcare system is that we are nowhere near prepared to face an immediate crisis. Saying “everything is fine, go back to normal” may make everyone feel better, but will directly lead to many, many deaths.
Republicans have been yelling at everyone to “put aside politics” as a message of following the president. These two political hacks are willing to take advantage of this situation to score political points.
Beyond infuriating.
Comment by NIU Grad Monday, Mar 16, 20 @ 2:27 pm
Senator Schimpf is “concerned” that the Governor is being to hard on Trump. Check out his latest FB post.
Comment by Highland, IL Monday, Mar 16, 20 @ 2:29 pm
=== In fact, the bureaucrats’ paychecks are guaranteed by the taxpayers of Illinois, unlike the cooks, the servers, the dishwashers, and the owners of those bars and restaurants.===
Utter buffoons, worried about “ bureaucrats“ and political buzzwords instead of the health of… the cooks, restaurant owners, etc.
Pathetic.
Here’s a beaut, LOL
=== In the days after 9-11 and the attack on the twin towers in New York and the Pentagon in Washington DC there was a lot of uncertainty and a monumental crisis across the nation. Our leaders at that time worked to assure the nation that there would be a concerted effort to return to normalcy. Here in Illinois our leaders are seemingly paralyzed with fear and fueling uncertainty.===
President Bush did just that, with his popularly soaring as *we all* trusted the federal government in those times.
These pathetic souls are conceding the President now, Trump, isn’t that calming force or easy hand? Nope. They know he’s not, so go all partisan. Truly sad to see the side-stepping of partisan truth the President is untruthful, can’t be a steady hand, and gives no comfort.
Good to know these foolish folks see that.
Thank you for singling yourselves out… State Senator Brian Stewart, R-Freeport, and State Representative John Cabello, R-Machesney Park
Thank YOU
We’ll take it from here, and follow leaders who don’t write long partisan things to feel better.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 16, 20 @ 2:29 pm
Businesses are acting without additional orders. My pharmacy, which is located inside a grocery store, has closed their walk-up counter and is only using their drive-thru facility.
Comment by RNUG Monday, Mar 16, 20 @ 2:30 pm
I mean, Stewart and Cabello are showing the same reckless and dangerous disregard for health and safety that Pritzker is by not following Ohio in moving the election.
Not really much daylight there.
Comment by Evanstonian Monday, Mar 16, 20 @ 2:35 pm
===. Our leaders at that time worked to assure the nation that there would be a concerted effort to return to normalcy.
This is the best strategy to get back to normalcy, it’s just going to take some time.
Comment by Archpundit Monday, Mar 16, 20 @ 2:37 pm
==I mean, Stewart and Cabello are showing the same reckless and dangerous disregard for health and safety that Pritzker is by not following Ohio in moving the election.
Not really much daylight there.==
This is exactly right
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Mar 16, 20 @ 2:38 pm
“I mean, Stewart and Cabello are showing the same reckless and dangerous disregard for health and safety that Pritzker is by not following Ohio in moving the election. Not really much daylight there.”
How absurd. There are a lot of considerations on the election issue. They are trying to work through all of those considerations. Stewart and Cabello are just playing politics…Are you?
Comment by Chicago Cynic Monday, Mar 16, 20 @ 2:40 pm
=== ==I mean, Stewart and Cabello are showing the same reckless and dangerous disregard for health and safety that Pritzker is by not following Ohio in moving the election.
Not really much daylight there.==
This is exactly right===
Explain the legal justifications, but first… explain how Illinois sets elections.
Illinois is not Ohio in procedure.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 16, 20 @ 2:42 pm
1) Ohio is not unilaterally moving its election, which its authorities have no power to do. Instead, authorities worked in concert with political party leaders to identify people for a lawsuit to get a court order to move the election, which no reporting has said has actually happened yet
https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2020/03/16/dewine-seeks-to-push-back-ohio-primary-election-to-june/
2) Cabello and Stewart are ridiculous and putting lives at risk
Comment by Precinct Captain Monday, Mar 16, 20 @ 2:44 pm
Even Trump is now saying no gatherings of over 10 people. Not a lot of restaurants and bars have 10 or less people in them during business hours. https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/coronavirus-outbreak-03-16-20-intl-hnk/
Comment by Yup Monday, Mar 16, 20 @ 2:46 pm
I’m not sure the governor has the authority to move the primary election. Most of the actions he has taken are authorized functions of the Illinois Department of Public Health or another similar agency that have been on the
Books for more than a century.
The proper focus of the criticisms directed at him is that he’s pre-empting decisions that in the past have been made by local boards of health. His one size fits all approach hasn’t been universally well-received outside Chicago.
Comment by Downstate Illinois Monday, Mar 16, 20 @ 2:46 pm
=Illinois is not Ohio in procedure.=
Exactly. Each decision has to be carefully considered based on the facts and rules. And those will differ state to state and administration. We also have a number of states that seem content with operating under a business as usual mindset.
Comment by Pundent Monday, Mar 16, 20 @ 2:48 pm
=== In the days after 9-11 and the attack on the twin towers in New York and the Pentagon in Washington DC there was a lot of uncertainty and a monumental crisis across the nation. Our leaders at that time worked to assure the nation that there would be a concerted effort to return to normalcy. Here in Illinois our leaders are seemingly paralyzed with fear and fueling uncertainty.===
1) A virus circulating in the community has nothing in common with terrorists flying planes into buildings.
2) Gov. Pritzker seems to be anything but “paralyzed with fear.” (BTW There is a national leader who has been seemingly paralyzed and taking very little action, and then only under extreme pressure.)
3) “Returning to normalcy” requires a minimization of the threat. What are you doing to minimize the threat of this virus? Are you encouraging people to do the one thing we know works? (Hint: it involves minimizing contact with others.) Are you doing anything to actually help your constituents take the appropriate actions? (I know, it might require some government support…)
Comment by Pot calling kettle Monday, Mar 16, 20 @ 2:49 pm
I expect their full throated roars to be directed to our neighbor to the East which has done the exact same thing. Heaven forbid we put people ahead of profits.
Comment by Fixer Monday, Mar 16, 20 @ 2:49 pm
Meanwhile census enumerators continue to go door to door in rural communities without mail delivery dropping off census questionnaires.
Comment by Downstate Illinois Monday, Mar 16, 20 @ 2:51 pm
“Explain the legal justifications, but first… explain how Illinois sets elections.
Illinois is not Ohio in procedure.”
Pritzker seems to imply it’s his choice: “If we delayed the election, it is unclear when we would be able to hold another,” Pritzker said.
The implication here it’s practical, not scientific or medical or legal.
Comment by Evanstonian Monday, Mar 16, 20 @ 2:51 pm
Practically speaking, can Illinois, thru “procedure“ not only postpone but have a date to move?
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 16, 20 @ 2:57 pm
=The implication here it’s practical, not scientific or medical or legal.=
Practicality does need to be considered. As Rich noted on another thread. Eating in a restaurant is optional. Certainly any voter or election judge who feels the risk outweighs the benefit will make that decision on the day of in person voting. If you feel that one day of in-person voting is a great risk, then you must be quiet worried about people shopping in grocery stores and Wal-Mart right now.
The goal of the measures that have been implemented is to slow the spread of the virus, not quarantine the population.
Comment by Pundent Monday, Mar 16, 20 @ 3:04 pm
POTUS said moments ago it’s up to the states, and they should go on.
So… now what?
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 16, 20 @ 3:06 pm
Well, I don’t always think our current POTUS dispenses the best, most sensible advice. In fact, I think more often than not, it’s terrible.
Your mileage may vary.
Comment by Evanstonian Monday, Mar 16, 20 @ 3:10 pm
Mopes. I wonder how the governors of Ohio and Indiana, Stewart’s and Cabello’s fellow Republicans who also ordered restaurants closed, would respond to claims they are “paralyzed with fear and fueling uncertainty.”
And I’m no doctor, but I’m fairly certain unprecedented terrorist attacks aren’t spread by person-to-person contact, but maybe I’m just nitpicking now…
Comment by John Deere Green Monday, Mar 16, 20 @ 3:10 pm
Governance matters. Reading the second volume of Francis Fukuyama again. He warned in that tome that systems have been developed over time and when things are working decently; people take these for granted. When you have real incompetence, combined with what can only charitably be described as malice; you see the results. I am glad that the local leaders in places like IL, OH, NY, CA and WA etc. have realized that they are on their own and doing the best they can. The fact that the pandemic response team at the NRC was disbanded in 2018 due to what I can only describe as “undo everything the black man ever did”, is almost a criminal act. Hope the state and local leaders can do better.
Comment by indianbadger Monday, Mar 16, 20 @ 3:12 pm
Every day the probability of meeting a carrier of a Covid-19 increases. Voting is safer Tuesday than a week from Tuesday.
This year I ask skipping the primary. Only important vote is the advisory one on allowing marijuana sales in town (which I support)
Comment by Last Bull Moose Monday, Mar 16, 20 @ 3:13 pm
There is no return to normalcy. We have entered a period of New Normal. We will never return after this completely to the normal that existed before this virus. Our new normal is evolving and emerging. We certainly won’t ever return to the old normal ever and certainly in two weeks. Our lives have changed we need to adjust and figure out how to live the new normal.
Comment by Almost retired Monday, Mar 16, 20 @ 3:18 pm
A lot of Republicans who are supposedly pro-life are showing an amazing disregard for life.
Comment by Striketoo Monday, Mar 16, 20 @ 3:21 pm
Dr Stewart and Dr Cabello just demonstrated their years of medical experience and multiple peer reviewed articles.
Pretty hard to argue with Pritzker’s steps when Governors in NY, WA, and other states are doing the exact same thing for the exact same reason. Watched Cuomo’s speech this morning requesting the Fed’s set the same standards for the entire country just to keep consistency and control the spread. But no, POTUS says state on their own. Leadership in tough choices.
Comment by zatoichi Monday, Mar 16, 20 @ 3:40 pm
“- Striketoo - Monday, Mar 16, 20 @ 3:21 pm:
A lot of Republicans who are supposedly pro-life are showing an amazing disregard for life.”
Striketoo just won the day.
Comment by Chicago Cynic Monday, Mar 16, 20 @ 3:51 pm
We are sadly realizing the cost of suffering fools for too long.
Comment by Lincoln Lad Monday, Mar 16, 20 @ 4:02 pm
Can we get Cabello to comment on President Trump limiting gatherings to 10 people?
Comment by {Sigh} Monday, Mar 16, 20 @ 4:16 pm
Furthermore, can we ask Cabello & Stewart how they would stop the spread for this virus so patients are not dying? What is their plan of action?
At a time when these two legislators make statements like :
“To bureaucrats and billionaires two weeks without a paycheck is nothing. In fact, the bureaucrats’ paychecks are guaranteed by the taxpayers of Illinois, unlike the cooks, the servers, the dishwashers, and the owners of those bars and restaurants.“
DID THEY JUST AGREE THAT NOW IS THE TIME TO RAISE THE WAGE FOR THESE EMPLOYEES & PROVIDE THESE WORKERS WITH HEALTH CARE?
Comment by {Sigh} Monday, Mar 16, 20 @ 4:24 pm
===said his office does not have the power to unilaterally change the voting date, but the governor outlined a process involving the courts that can allow…===
To this very specifically… very specifically.
Here’s the leadership question;
Do you want a governor causing unneeded confusion by this…
“…does not have the power to unilaterally change the voting date, but … involving the courts that can allow…”
How responsible does that sound?
You want Kass to blow a gasket?
Have Governor Pritzker say…
“Governor Pritzker said his office does not have the power to unilaterally change the voting date, but the governor outlined a process involving the courts that can allow… “
I can read it now.
“Pritzker and the corrupt phonies trying to fool voters to think they can change the date, but can’t, so no one will vote against the status quo…”
Kass isn’t about honesty to process, Kass would be about stirring the pot here that is seeded with anger and division… and silliness.
You want that DeWine confusion.
I don’t.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 16, 20 @ 4:25 pm
Also… Florida;
Reported…
The Florida Secretary of State Laurel Lee: “Florida is proceeding with tomorrows election.”
Adds: “As of this morning’s report, almost 2 million Floridians have voted.”
“Because Chicago Democrat Bosses”, Mr. Kass?
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 16, 20 @ 4:38 pm
How much will this stunt from Mike DeWine suppress the vote in Ohio? People heard hours of misinformation all afternoon and most of the evening.
Comment by Precinct Captain Monday, Mar 16, 20 @ 7:48 pm
Three things need to be appreciated. 1) many people do not understand how powerful exponential growth is. It’s a good thing the governor does. 2) The crisis will end when about 50% of the people gain immunity — either because they have recovered or thu vaccination. We will get enough immune people to dampen down the infection rate to a manageable level. 3) We. Ed to slow down the rate of infections to a level that does not oversaturate the health system.
So think months. The government needs to help,all the people and small businesses weather this. Only the national government has that kind of financial power.
Comment by Don Monday, Mar 16, 20 @ 8:11 pm