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* GOP press release…
Senate Republican Deputy Leader Sue Rezin (R-Morris) issued the following statement after the Joint Committee of Administrative Rules (JCAR) successfully voted to suspend the Pritzker Administration’s attempt to reissue emergency rules that would have required school districts to enforce the Governor’s school mask mandate despite a recent court ruling. JCAR voted to block the emergency rules with a bipartisan 9-0-2 vote:
“Today, the Joint Committee of Administrative Rules made it clear that we would not accept the Governor’s attempts to go above a court ruling made by a co-equal branch of government.
“Instead of allowing our judicial system to work through its process, the Governor tried to double down on his unilateral approach to COVID-19 mitigations by reissuing the same exact rules that a Sangamon County judge nullified earlier this month. This move was both bad government and dangerous to the rule of law as it ignored the court’s ruling on due process.
“In his quest for power and control, Pritzker and his Administration was willing to further the chaos and confusion for schools throughout the state. With this bipartisan vote, I hope that the Governor finally recognizes that his go-it-alone tactic is not in the best interest of our state or its people.”
I’m waiting on a statement from the governor’s office. But an official did confirm this means that there is no statewide school mask mandate now.
We’ll wait to see what the governor’s office says, but the Democrats asked the governor to pull the emergency rule and I’m told he couldn’t do it because of the appeal of the DeVore case.
Sens. Bill Cunnigham and Tony Munoz voted “Present,” by the way. Sen. Kimberly Lightford was not at the hearing.
“I think it fair to say the committee was uncomfortable with extending an emergency rule that has been invalidated by a court,” Senate President Pro Tempore Cunningham told me this afternoon.
The Democrats are saying they will revisit the emergency rule if the appellate court overturns the DeVore ruling.
* From Senate GOP Leader McConchie…
“In his quest for power at all costs, the Governor attempted to go above the judicial system to continue to require masks in schools, a move that even his Democrat allies in the legislature wouldn’t support. Even they agree he has gone too far.
“Today, the Governor was willing to add to the confusion and chaos that has overwhelmed our schools and parents in the last several days. Fortunately for the people of Illinois, he was stopped.
“Enough is enough. Let’s start governing this state through the rightful democratic process, not under one man’s rule and ego.”
*** UPDATE 1 *** Jordan Abudayyeh at the governor’s office…
The administration understands that members of the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules are awaiting a ruling from the appellate court on this issue. As doctors have said time and again, masks are the best way to preserve in-person learning and keep children and staff safe. We look forward to continuing to work with members of the General Assembly, school districts, parents, communities and all stakeholders to use the tools we have to keep in-person learning. In the meantime, the administration urges all schools and parents to encourage mask-wearing to keep everyone in their schools and communities safe.
…Adding… House Republicans…
The bicameral Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) voted 9-0-2 today to block re-implementation of Governor JB Pritzker’s mask mandate for K-12 public and private schools in Illinois in the wake of the February 4 temporary restraining order issued by Sangamon County Circuit Court Judge Raylene Grischow declaring the Governor’s emergency rules as they apply to schools “null and void.”
“Parents and children across Illinois deserve certainty and clarity amid all the confusion and chaos created by Governor Pritzker’s decision to continually go it alone and work only through the courts instead of with stakeholders and families,” Representative Wheeler said in a statement. “Locally elected school boards who are accountable to parents and know best for their districts, along with their local health department experts, should be allowed to make decisions on COVID mitigations that fit their communities best. With JCAR’s bipartisan ruling today, there is no statewide mask mandate in effect for schools, and the decision now belongs with the local school districts.”
All three House Republican members of JCAR voted to reject re-implementation of the Governor’s mask mandate, including Deputy GOP Leader Rep. Tom Demmer (R-Dixon), Assistant GOP Leader Rep. Keith Wheeler (R-Oswego), and Rep. Steve Reick (R-Woodstock).
The Governor’s emergency rule on COVID mitigations for Illinois schools expired on Sunday, February 13. The Administration immediately re-filed the rule on Monday, putting it back into effect unless JCAR voted affirmatively to block it with a minimum of 8 members on the 12-member committee. Nine members voted to suspend the Governor’s emergency rule, with zero voting to keep it in place and two members voting “Present.”
During the hearing, Representative Wheeler suggested to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) official testifying on behalf of the Pritzker Administration that the agency could have shown respect for the ongoing judicial process by issuing guidance to Illinois schools on recommended COVID mitigations instead of re-filing them as mandates in the form of an emergency rule. The IDPH official rejected that suggestion, reiterating the agency’s position of pressing forward with mandates rather than guidance. Moments later, JCAR voted to approve a motion blocking re-implementation of the Governor’s mask mandate via emergency rule.
…Adding… Sen. DeWitte…
On February 15, the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) voted 9-0-2 to block Governor JB Pritzker’s attempt to reissue emergency rules that would force school districts to enforce his mask, vaccine, and testing mandates. The vote was bipartisan, with three Democrats joining the committee’s six Republicans in suspending the proposed rule. Following the vote, State Senator Donald DeWitte (R-St. Charles) issued the following statement:
“Rather than respecting a decision handed down by the judicial branch of government, Gov. Pritzker still insisted that he, and only he, should have unilateral control over every aspect of the pandemic response. By issuing essentially the same rule that had already been deemed null and void, even his Democrat allies on JCAR could not support him. Even they felt his reissuance of the rule went too far.
“With full knowledge of the court ruling, Governor Pritzker was essentially asking school districts to violate a constitutional right to due process that must be afforded to students and families. It was yet another example of his ‘go it alone’ attitude that shuts out all other coequal branches of government.
“As a courtesy, we offered IDPH and the Pritzker Administration the opportunity to withdraw their rule pending a decision by the Appellate Court. Instead, they chose to double down. They made a poor decision, and today they lost.”
…Adding… Rabine…
Gary Rabine, candidate for Illinois Governor is issuing the following statement on JCAR’s ruling today to suspend the Illinois Department of Public Health emergency rules requiring masks to be worn in schools.
“Today, Illinois Legislators made it clear it’s time for Pritzker’s tyrannical reign to end. Democrats and Republicans slammed Pritzker COVID chaos by stopping his attempt to go around the court order that lifted mask mandates in schools.
The Governor has forgotten we live in a Democracy - which means he needs to consult with elected officials, Illinois citizens and parents before he issues orders regarding their kids’ health and well-being.
This vote today is a flat-out rejection of JB Pritzker and his approach to governing - by even his own party.”
*** UPDATE 2 *** Senate Preside Pro Tempore Bill Cunningham…
“We have an active court case on this matter, the outcome of which should provide clarity for what next steps are needed. Acting now would be premature given that pending ruling and also given the fact that the previous rule amounted to guidance without any real enforcement.”
*** UPDATE 3 *** 4th District Appellate Court…
The Attorney General representing the State Defendants and attorneys DeVore and Gerber representing the plaintiffs are directed to explain how this appeal is affected by the actions taken February 15, 2022, by the Joint Committee of Administrative Rules (JCAR) blocking extension of the Illinois Department of Public Health’s emergency rules. The explanation is due by 1:00 PM, Wednesday, February 16, 2022.
…Adding… Jesse Sullivan…
“Today’s JCAR vote is a victory for separation of powers and the rule of law. Pritzker’s agenda is clearer than ever: seize total control of Illinois kids and schools, answering to no one but his most radical teacher’s union backers. His actions are so extreme that his own party is now rejecting them. And in November, voters will too.”
…Adding… Rep. Bourne…
State Representative Avery Bourne (R-Morrisonville) issued the following statement in response:
“Gov. Pritzker cannot continue to sidestep the legislature, or the courts, and go-it-alone to force his mandates on the families and children of Illinois,” said Bourne. “This is a win for the rights of parents and local school boards to decide what is best for their children, and I commend JCAR for standing up for parents and children today.”
Last week, Rep. Bourne also joined colleagues in sending a letter to the Governor demonstrating the evidence of the unintended harm masking has on the social-emotional and learning of our children and calling for him to drop his appeal. A copy of that letter can be viewed on RepBourne.com
.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 2:51 pm
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Probably should start checking the budget for those member project’s that somehow just won’t get funded this year.
Comment by Give Me A Break Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 2:55 pm
==“Enough is enough. Let’s start governing this state through the rightful democratic process, not under one man’s rule and ego.”==
“That’s something we’d prefer at the federal level instead.”
Comment by Roadrager Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 2:56 pm
Big if true….
Truly feel sorry for any school board that has a meeting in the next 48 hours.
Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 2:59 pm
=== In his quest for power at all costs===
Maybe - LP - is McConchie?
To the post,
The race seems to be this February date of the mask mandate and forcing the discussion to schools as well, “obviously”.
The parsing is the wedge that will bring the whole thing down, because as with anything with this global pandemic… any “out” the non-compliant can find, they will push, and now that wedge is allowing daylight for Dems on the issue too.
The GA might be doing Pritzker a favor, like a payback, accidentally of course, and “opening things up”… by the GA… now Pritzker’s “hands are tied”?
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 2:59 pm
= I hope that the Governor finally recognizes that his go-it-alone tactic is not in the best interest of our state or its people. =
Now that that’s out in the open, it pretty much kills any complaints from Rezin about deaths in veterans homes.
By her words, it seems she is saying it actually was her responsibility to properly manage the areas she represents through the democratic process. If during that process, the local residents didn’t find it important enough to protect veterans in their area by enacting and following the simplest of protocols, then why try to blame their local choices on the governor.
Governors may own, as the saying goes… but that only works until you decide to take back that ownership in a very public way.
Locals always seem to complain about wanting local control. It’s just the responsibility that comes with it they don’t seem to like very much.
Comment by TheInvisibleMan Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 3:05 pm
=In his quest for power at all costs=
What does this even mean? Does anybody really believe that Pritzker has some secret desire to exert power over kids by making them wear masks? How can we ever take the ILGOP serious if this is their view on governing?
Comment by Pundent Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 3:08 pm
Anyone else with children under 5 exhausted, depleted, and anxious as heck with all this? Just me?
Comment by Avocado Toast Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 3:10 pm
Seems to me that submitting rules to JCAR for its approval is the opposite of a go-it-alone strategy. But the ILGOP has their talking points and they’re sticking to them.
Comment by Big Dipper Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 3:11 pm
You know who isn’t complaining about masks? Kids. People should stop using them to advance their own ignorance.
Comment by Emmerder Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 3:16 pm
This is truly, truly infuriating and in a well run society there’d be some political consequence for hiding from a difficult vote like this.
Comment by SWSider Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 3:19 pm
==Does anybody really believe that Pritzker has some secret desire to exert power over kids by making them wear masks? ==
Yes, people really think that (I don’t), but that feeling exists. There are folks out there who feel that the state (and by extension) the Governor wants to push ideas they don’t want their kids to hear, viewpoints they don’t want their kids to hear, values they don’t want their kids to hear. To exert control over their kids in various ways. This isn’t a new perspective or thought process for folks, it just has found a new manifestation.
I would argue the thing in life most people are the least rational about is anything having to do with their children. The triggers might be different (safety, moral viewpoint, academic achievement) but that viewpoint can span a wide variety of political viewpoints.
Go propose something in Naperville that might make a parent think a school would be considered slightly less “good” (as they define it by high academic achievement) and see how they respond. Go to a parent of a CPS selective enrolment school and make the argument that selective enrolment schools are bad for students as a whole and see what the response would be.
At the end of the day, people are not rational at times when it comes to their kids.
Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 3:19 pm
==Let’s start governing this state through the rightful democratic process==
We are. He’s the elected Governor. If you don’t like it get someone from your party in the Governor’s mansion.
Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 3:19 pm
Sen. Rezin: It was Judge Raylene Grischow in her poorly reasoned and worded opinion who caused “the confusion and chaos that has overwhelmed our schools and parents.”
It’s the appellate court that has perpetuated it by taking a leisurely approach instead of acting with dispatch.
Comment by Moe Berg Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 3:20 pm
Does this apply to all emergency rules that a Gov may reissue or just emergency masks?
Comment by Gus Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 3:23 pm
= This move was both bad government and dangerous to the rule of law as it ignored the court’s ruling on due process. =
In case nobody has noticed yet, that courts bizarre carved out ruling also applies to everything else that is considered medical testing.
Like being able to give a breathalyzer test when someone is suspected of a DUI.
According to the way this judge parses due process, that act of testing is also now illegal without a prior court order.
Can’t say I’m surprised the anti maskers ended up ‘accidentally’ invalidating parts of DUI laws as well. There has always been a big overlap there anyway.
Can we talk about the lazy approach to the appeal now, or do we want to wait until the first DUI case uses it successfully as a defense.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 3:26 pm
anonymous at 3:26 was me
Comment by TheInvisibleMan Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 3:26 pm
Demoralized, that is false. The rightful democratic process is through the General Assembly, which is where JCAR is coming in.
Comment by Blake Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 3:28 pm
===which is where JCAR is coming in===
As far as I know, JCAR’s authority has never been tested in the courts.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 3:29 pm
=Anyone else with children under 5 exhausted, depleted, and anxious as heck with all this? Just me?=
@Avocado Toast - Nope. Right there with you. :/
Comment by Ramona Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 3:36 pm
I was hoping we could make it to the end of the school year without a major outbreak of COVID cases. I’m not so sure now.
Comment by Wensicia Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 3:36 pm
I wondering how the former employees of the closed Jacksonville DD Center feel about JCAR’s authority given JCAR voted to keep it open.
Comment by Give Me A Break Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 3:39 pm
The three no votes are all in the Mod Squad and the two present votes are both in leadership. Interesting.
Comment by The Real Downstate Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 3:42 pm
I know the TRO restrained the state from enforcing some executive orders, but technically it didn’t invalidate those, right? The mask mandate is in one of those executive orders, not just the emergency rules. So I’m not clear on why an official would say there is no statewide mask mandate…even if they can’t enforce it through IDPH rules at the moment.
Comment by Just Thoughts Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 3:43 pm
===Probably should start checking the budget for those member project’s that somehow just won’t get funded this year.===
Quid Pro Quo much? Sounds like you’re a real advocate for good government.
Comment by AD Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 3:46 pm
===TRO restrained the state from enforcing some executive orders===
Although this Court denied Plaintiffs’ request for Class Certification in Case No: 2021 -CH-500002, this Court has declared IDPH’s Emergency Rules void.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 3:47 pm
AD, you new to Illinois politics? Ha
Comment by Give Me A Break Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 3:48 pm
Disappointing decision that doesn’t serve the public’s interest in addressing the pandemic, but certainly feeds the partisan pandering.
Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 3:49 pm
=In his quest for power at all costs=
Absolutely asinine statement from typical ilgop word salad platoon.
=Anyone else with children under 5 exhausted,=
I was just outside watching our buses load and leave. Based on the energy level I observed your statement is empirically false.
=I hope that the Governor finally recognizes that his go-it-alone tactic is not in the best interest of our state or its people.=
He didn’t go it alone. You just don’t like it and have pathetically tried to obstruct. Grow up.
Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 3:49 pm
===this Court has declared IDPH’s Emergency Rules void.===
I know, but my point was executive orders =/= emergency rules, and the mandate was in both.
Comment by Just Thoughts Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 3:56 pm
@Avocado Toast not to burst your bubble but kids under five don’t die from Covid. There is also no way that they can properly wear a mask for eight hours straight.
Comment by Mike Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 3:56 pm
===but kids under five don’t die from Covid.===
In Illinois, a child under 1 passed. It was covid.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 3:58 pm
I was at a grade school volleyball match last night in St. Clair co. hardly an Eastern block area. approx 300 in attendance. 7 masks. all elderly.
Comment by Blue Dog Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 4:02 pm
“(JCAR) voted 9-0-2 to block Governor JB Pritzker’s attempt to reissue emergency rules that would force school districts to enforce his mask, vaccine, and testing mandates”
Becoming a moot point as more and more schools districts opt to go Mask optional. They are making this decision based on their own authority and on local covid data - they are not waiting for an appeals ruling of the TRO, or for a decision by the Governor. Naperville districts just announced mask optional today, and others like Lake Park will go mask optional on the 28th .
Comment by Donnie Elgin Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 4:06 pm
@JS Mill - Pretty sure Avocado Toast was asking about parents feeling exhausted, not the kids. @Mike - Plenty of kids (both over and under 5) wear masks for eight hours straight. Except for the very youngest, most are capable of understanding that they should do so to protect others. In my experience as a parent and community member, most are willing to do that in order to play their part in keeping others healthy.
Comment by Commander Norton Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 4:07 pm
-In Illinois, a child under 1 passed. It was covid.-
No doubt this is tragic. But, kids die from the flu , traffic accidents, and stray bullets in Chicago. Some sort of reasonable cost/benefit analysis and risk taking must apply.
Comment by Steve Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 4:08 pm
==The rightful democratic process is through the General Assembly==
The Governor was elected last time I checked which is the democratic process. We shouldn’t have to govern by committee in the middle of a pandemic.
So no, it’s not false. You’re just not real familiar with democracy apparently
Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 4:10 pm
===No doubt this is tragic. But, kids die from the flu===
This lack of sympathy and empathy for once a century pandemic is noted… this connect is *exactly* why 900,000 deaths means so little to Covidiots, anti-vaxxers…
=== risk taking must apply.===
Want a child of yours to trade places with a family who lost an infant?
Risky thing, making others lives so disposable
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 4:11 pm
It’s really all down to the original cowardice of the legislature; that bunch of wind socks could have met, made some common-sense rules, and been done with it, long ago. They punted and left it to JB to handle, and, that worked for a while but it worked because it was assumed the legislature would finally come back in and do their jobs. Even if it cost them politically. I am always disappointed by the cowardice of legislators, who spend much more time trying to keep their jobs, than they do at actually performing them.
Comment by Give Us Barabbas Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 4:12 pm
last Tuesday, in my second grade daughter’s class. a Sangamon County public school. 20 of 22 second graders showed up maskless.
Comment by Blue Dog Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 4:14 pm
Our legislature has been embarrassingly consistent. From the beginning of the pandemic they have made the choice to do nothing and let Pritzker take responsibility for everything. They begged people to elect them so they could make the difficult decision, but when there is a real crisis they suddenly can’t find it within themselves to do anything.
Compare that to how decisive they are to pass new maps. Boy, they sure moved on that issue.
Comment by Just Me 2 Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 4:26 pm
==kids die from the flu , traffic accidents, and stray bullets in Chicago==
Which is why doctors recommend folks get a flu shot, why seat belts and car seats are required, and why folks for the most part want reforms to gun control laws. People want government to address their concerns and based off the post from the other day regarding polling on the issue of masks, the majority want this phased out gradually, not just dropped on a Tuesday afternoon.
Next?
Comment by Fixer Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 4:28 pm
Picking up my son, all of the students I saw were wearing masks (or in the process of taking them off) as they came out of the building. Anecdotal evidence is fun!
Mike - Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 3:56 pm:
@Avocado Toast not to burst your bubble but kids under five don’t die from Covid
Kids under 5 don’t die? Which timeline has that because this one seems to have Covid caused deaths for kids under 5.
For example:
Three children between 1 and 5 years old have died of COVID in Mississippi since Feb. 1, 2020 (https://tinyurl.com/5f6spsn3)
or
Orange County reports third COVID-19 death of a child younger than 5 (https://tinyurl.com/2p9y8yxh)etc.
Comment by Masked Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 4:30 pm
In one of my classes today there were 3 people wearing masks: myself, the other teacher, and one student.
Comment by historic66 Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 4:36 pm
Love how so many fail to look out for the common good. Refusal to wear a mask and claim it to be a rights issue is sad. My grandchildren are too young to be vaccinated, so I guess it is fine if they get exposed because someone was so troubled.
Comment by Skokie Paul Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 4:36 pm
Fixer:
Outside of gun laws, which I agree with you on, those are all things you can do to protect yourself. You can wear a N95 mask for the rest of your life for all I care. I choose not to. I don’t need the government mandating what I wear over my face every time I leave my house. It’s a bridge too far.
Comment by DuPage Moderate Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 4:37 pm
Wouldn’t this JCAR vote essentially make the TRO and thus the appellate ruling moot?
The school mask mandate no longer exists so the TRO is no longer needed and therefore, the appellate court has nothing to rule on.
Comment by Downstate Teacher Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 4:41 pm
===You can wear a N95 mask for the rest of your life for all I care. I choose not to.===
The adults understanding this realize… not *one soul* has said that they… or anyone else… is mandated to wear masks… for the rest of anyone’s life.
It’s a child’s argument to think that’s a thing.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 4:42 pm
Under what realistic conditions would the restrictions end? What’s the mandates’ continuing utility that won’t be around in 2025?
Comment by Blake Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 4:45 pm
I am glad to see the same mentality of “the government cannot force me to to wear clothes in public…that is a bridge too far and stealing my freedoms”.
“I thought this was America!”
https://youtu.be/lyt3_fZ4_KE
Comment by Downstate Teacher Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 4:46 pm
===Under what realistic conditions===
The state is removing mandates at the end of February.
If you think another 3 years are going to be needed for schools, you are disingenuous in your argument.
Since parents and some children refuse to be vaccinated, or in some cases, age restricted to be vaccinated, it might be predicated on vaccines, kids, and educators… and safety
Your hyperbole is outside a reasonable discussion to that time frame.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 4:48 pm
“No man is an island” John Donne in 1642
Comment by very old soil Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 4:51 pm
I’m wearing my mask. My grandkids are wearing their masks. I see lots of people in masks and a fair number that are not. Politicians and partisan judges will not define my behavior. Don’t give in if you feel wearing a mask is a good healthcare decision. Bonus is it makes the naysayers crazy.
Comment by Stormsw7706 Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 4:53 pm
Your comment at 4:48 contradicts your comment at 4:11. The conditions for your comment at 4:11 will highly likely remain in 2025.
Comment by Blake Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 4:53 pm
===Your comment at 4:48 contradicts your comment at 4:11. The conditions for your comment at 4:11 will highly likely remain in 2025.===
You can’t have empathy?
Ok.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 4:54 pm
Okay what the Fourth District and Downstate Teacher said appear to be circular. JCAR did this to wait for the appellate court to rule and now the appellate court is consideeing not ruling because of what JCAR did?
Comment by Big Dipper Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 4:55 pm
It’s almost as if the court was purposely sitting on the appeal until this JCAR meeting took place.
Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 4:56 pm
=Illinois Legislators made it clear it’s time for Pritzker’s tyrannical reign to end.=
Mask mandates are synonymous with a tyrannical reign? Who knew? Do people like Rabine even understand what tyranny is? Here’s a hint, it ain’t mask mandates.
Comment by Pundent Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 4:58 pm
Court to JCAR: You Go
JCAR to Court: No, You Go
Court to JCAR: No really, You GO
JCAR to Court: We Got All Day
Comment by Give Me A Break Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 5:00 pm
Your comment at 4:11 was a rejection of Steve acknowledging “some sort of reasonable cost/benefit analysis and risk taking must apply.” You acknowledge the mask mandate won’t be around in 2025. What will be different then that would cause you to oppose a mask mandate in 2025?
Comment by Blake Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 5:00 pm
===No doubt this is tragic. But, kids die from the flu , traffic accidents, and stray bullets in Chicago. Some sort of reasonable cost/benefit analysis and risk taking must apply.===
Your first sentence reads like boilerplate. CYA. I do not believe you actually think it is tragic.
Comment by Nick Name Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 5:02 pm
Wasn’t there a post here just the other day about the polling behind masking and how generally popular it is?
The GOP comments are ridiculous but no one expected sanity from them. I am extremely disappointed in the Democrats here. The Governor has born the brunt of every difficult decision on Covid. These folks needed to have one “courageous” vote to not screw over kids and they couldn’t even manage that. They had plenty of data to tell them why this is important. I’ll be withholding my donations and support accordingly.
Comment by Anchors Away Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 5:02 pm
=Do people like Rabine even understand what tyranny is?=
I wonder if he realizes that it has its origins in the Roman empire and was a good thing?
People like Rabine and all of the over the top nuts have really ruined our language. the proliferation of over the top gross hyperbole is really sickening.
Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 5:03 pm
===but kids under five don’t die from Covid.===
What about the long term effects?
Comment by MrMisery Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 5:03 pm
=== You acknowledge the mask mandate won’t be around in 2025. What will be different then that would cause you to oppose a mask mandate in 2025?===
Children will be vaccinated.
Anything else?
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 5:04 pm
This was going to end up being a local decision at some point, looks like we have arrived at that point. I would also suggest that it is going to stay local at this point no matter what.
Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 5:05 pm
Dupage, just blowing right on past that first point there. The flu shot, while designed to lessen symptoms, it can also help prevent the spread to vulnerable populations. But as to the rest of what you said, why stop at your face? Why should the government require you to wear pants? Or business require shoes? Do you see how silly that argument comes across?
Comment by Fixer Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 5:05 pm
===Today, Illinois Legislators made it clear it’s time for Pritzker’s tyrannical reign to end.===
And at last we will be released from the re-education camps.
Comment by Nick Name Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 5:07 pm
===I do not believe you actually think it is tragic.===
That is exactly how I read it. No way does he believe that. Can’t. Can’t with the other “words” in that comment.
== in 2025?===
Also, you can’t be a serious person to a global pandemic if you are arbitrarily picking “years”
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 5:07 pm
=What will be different then that would cause you to oppose a mask mandate in 2025?=
Between vaccines, therapeutics, and weakening strains the virus will likely run out of people to infect. You know, the things that are happening right now that are allowing states, including Illinois, to ease restrictions?
But since you brought up the “cost/benefit” as if public health should be put to some empirical test, what exactly is the “cost” of masks that you find so objectionable?
Comment by Pundent Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 5:07 pm
The JCAR vote likely settled the appeal I’m afraid.
Comment by Lincoln Lad Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 5:11 pm
===That is exactly how I read it.===
Thanks. His easy dismissal of child deaths as part of a “reasonable cost/benefit analysis” was unbelievably icy.
Comment by Nick Name Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 5:13 pm
Any “cost/benefit” analysis should factor in the effects of Long Covid on both kids and adults. And that analysis should include the losses we will have for years to come of staff shortages in healthcare, teacher shortages, and business losses just because one of the easiest mitigation measures, masking properly for the pandemic duration, to do has boiled down to “freedom”??? We are going to find our country “free” of a lot of things that are far more costly than a simple mask.
Comment by Anon221 Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 5:20 pm
The children will be less safe in school if masks are not worn. The pandemic will spread faster.
Comment by Enviro Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 5:28 pm
===seize total control of Illinois kids and schools, answering to no one but his most radical teacher’s union backers===
Well, Jesse certainly has the over-the-top rhetoric going.
===but kids under five don’t die from Covid.===
Really? 418 is not zero. (So much for bubble bursting.)
https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#demographics
===There is also no way that they can properly wear a mask for eight hours straight. ===
So? Nothing is perfect. Wearing masks for a few hours and still reduces the spread of an air-borne virus. Plus, kids are smart, they follow our lead and can learn.
Comment by Pot calling kettle Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 5:32 pm
Normalcy is a valuable thing to breathing free
Comment by Blake Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 5:41 pm
Oh this is terrible.
Comment by Bob Meter Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 5:42 pm
I had an easy case of Covid in December. Still dealing with some weird lingering effects even though the main symptoms passed long ago. The straw man argument that GOPers have made of “well not many kids have died so there’s no reason to mask kids” is infantile and completely ignores all the long term effects so many people with Covid wind up dealing with for months or years. It also ignores the kids infecting immunocompromised friends and family members. But of course the ethos of so many of these people is that other people don’t matter. Very frustrating that in America we’ve become a country of people who feel an obligation to others and people who don’t.
Comment by New Day Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 5:43 pm
The same Republicans that are fighting against the mandates will be the same ones blaming Democrats when the hospitals are filled and the death toll rises.
Comment by Jason Bourne Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 5:57 pm
GOP coms teams really working hard today, from what they tell me, JB wants to breakdown your door and force children to worship him while he forces them to put a mask on.
Comment by Give Me A Break Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 5:58 pm
Since the judge did not override union work rules, could teachers in districts demand that protections be in place like Chicago has? They really should consider it.
Comment by DTown Resident Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 6:03 pm
Teacher friend reports several of her special needs/immune compromised students have simply stopped showing up, demanding a remote learning option that doesn’t exist, since her district went optional. Such a sick effort by these people to put the most vulnerable among us at grave risk for cheap political points
Comment by SWIL_Voter Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 6:06 pm
At first, the response from the 4th appellate court sounds bad.
After thinking a bit though, there may be a bright spot from an unexpected source.
There are currently contempt of court cases pending for at least one principal for allegedly ignoring the decision of the court decision and the TRO.
That case is ongoing, and predicated on the validity of the TRO.
The appellate court still needs to take up this case to decide the matter of law, independent of the vote taken by JCAR today.
And the parent filing that lawsuit against the principal could very well be the deciding factor to the court in having to move forward with a ruling on the appeal.
Now, lets see if the gears move really quickly and that parent ’suddenly and randomly’ decides to drop the contempt lawsuit against the principal in order to leave nothing for the appellate court to rule on.
Comment by TheInvisibleMan Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 6:28 pm
Most of the statements being critical of the Governor for ruling by fiat are legitimate complaints, but he has done so because the legislature was too lazy to address the State’s biggest crisis since the Civil War.
Comment by Just Me 2 Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 7:29 pm
The legislature’s cowardice on Covid issues is matched only by the cowardice of the Illinois Appellate Court on Covid issues.
Comment by New Englander Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 8:18 pm
“State’s biggest crisis since the Civil War.”
And you wonder why your seriousness might be questioned?
Comment by ESR Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 8:33 pm
-JCAR did this to wait for the appellate court to rule and now the appellate court is consideeing not ruling because of what JCAR did?-
Right. I read it as the appellate court thinking that there is nothing left for them to do after JCAR’s action, and wanting briefing on that issue — why should they decide an issue that may now be moot.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 9:05 pm
It’s over. The genie is out of the bottle, no way to put this back in place in an election year.
Comment by Citizen Kane Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 9:28 pm
Rich’s post today on the fourth wave of influenza was prophetic.
Nearly 3 thousand Americans were reported dead today from Covid, more than any day of Delta, but we are desparatlely trying to convince ourselv3s that th3 worst is behind us and our bright days are just around th3 corner.
An “endemic Covid”, according to most recent models, would mean more deaths every year than from the flu, guns, or car crashes. I realize the rules can be inconvenient sometimes, but folks are basically voting to shortem their lives by an average of two years…in 3xchang3 for what, I am not sure.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 9:40 pm
Well when a case becomes moot on appeal the appellate court is supposed to vacate the underlying order. So JCAR may have inadvertently doomed the TRO.
Comment by Big Dipper Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 9:45 pm
=== And you wonder why your seriousness might be questioned? ===
I stand by my statement. Name me another Governor who had as many difficult decisions to make as J.B.? And most of those decisions were literally life and death decisions. Not easy, and not made easier by the General Assembly refusing to do even basic governing.
Comment by Just Me 2 Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 10:37 pm
Now that we’re letting the legislature dictate the public health response during a deadly pandemic without relying on the expertise of public health professionals, what next?
Shall we legislate away global climate change?
Comment by Candy Dogood Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 10:38 pm
Mootness in the context of a reversal of government action is tricky, but, generally, a temporary withdrawal of policy by the government does not moot litigation.
Comment by Original Anon Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 10:48 pm
Meanwhile, there are 5 ICU beds in southern IL. Five.
Denmark removed all restrictions not long ago and their death rate is *skyrocketing.*
The pandemic isn’t over just because you’re over it.
Comment by Narc Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 11:10 pm
=== The pandemic isn’t over just because you’re over it. ===
Truth.
I have not looked at zip code level data over the last couple of months, but if the omicron wave is following the patterns of last waves, it might only be starting in the truly rural areas of the state.
Big drops in urban areas can conceal steady increases in rural numbers.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Wednesday, Feb 16, 22 @ 4:30 am
After this vote, all members of JCAR deserve to lose re-election this year (unless they’re not running).
Comment by NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham Wednesday, Feb 16, 22 @ 5:38 am
=Denmark=
Interesting choice of the word sky rocketing. The 7 day death average in Denmark as of yesterday was 30. Yes that’s a big percentage increase from 10 in December. But 10 to 30 in the big picture does not warrant the alarmism you are attempting to provoke.
https://systems.jhu.edu/research/public-health/ncov/
Comment by MaddyMoon Wednesday, Feb 16, 22 @ 7:57 am
As the press points to a democratic failure to support the Gov, has Senate President Harmon explained why none of his members offered a single vote?
Comment by Lincoln Lad Wednesday, Feb 16, 22 @ 8:18 am