Metro East Sun

Rep. Avery Bourne (R-Raymond) said she is disappointed that Democrats have no intention of challenging Governor J.B. Pritzker's authority the legislative session resumes.

"A member of the House Democrats this week said he doubts the House will take up any measure that would limit the governor’s authority on this and that's disappointing," Bourne said. "This isn’t a partisan call."

Bourne said both Republicans and downstate Democrats have voiced interest in speeding the governor's plan to reopen Illinois.

"We have downstate Democrats and local officials across the state that have asked for a safe quickening of the governor’s plan," Bourne said. "Saying that we want to immediately reopen the economy is wrong. This is a bipartisan push from across the state. That’s our role as the legislature is to have that kind of input."

Bourne said Pritzker initially said the regions he enacted across the state were set in stone.

"I think this is something the legislature should take up," Bourne said. "We're seeing a push across the state—this isn’t just downstate."

Bourne said the legislative and judicial branches are the two different ways to put checks on the governor.

"There are already many cases working through the judicial branch," Bourne said. "We’re the other check on authority."

Bourne said she received three calls on May 20 about the state's unemployment issues.

"I even shared a story of a constituent who called 157 times to get through to unemployment," Bourne said. "This is the most frustrated I’ve ever been at not being able to give the answers these people need. The fact that the governor is defending this system is disappointing because it's failing a lot of people."

Bourne said May 29 is an arbitrary date for the next phase of reopening.

"We're not asking for the whole state to reopen immediately," Bourne said. "We’re asking for this to be more targeted."

Bourne said the way the regions are drawn is leaving out citizens lumped in with the northeast group who are well under reopening requirement thresholds.

"They’re lumped in with Cook County so they’re stuck," Bourne said.