Metro East Sun

Republican state Rep. Amy Elik (R-Alton) thinks Gov. J.B. Pritzker could use a refresher course on his job description.

"The flip-flopping from Governor Pritzker without input from the legislature needs to stop,” Elik posted on Facebook. “Since the start of the pandemic, the governor continues to make decisions he feels is best for everyone without factoring in local control or legislative input.”

Elik is hoping his latest act, which includes imposing a universal mask mandate for all public and private school students, is where residents will draw the line.

“The decision to implement mask requirements should be made by local school boards, not Governor Pritzker,” Elik said. The new edict also stipulates that all state employees working at congregate settings like long-term care facilities or veterans’ homes be vaccinated by Oct. 4 and that all teachers and staff members from preschool through 12th grade wear masks regardless of vaccination status.

State Rep. Dan Ugaste (R-Geneva) argues it’s just the latest instance of the governor ignoring the will of the people to press forward with his own agenda.

 “I have heard from countless parents on this issue, parents who have talked to and worked with local school boards on masking their children this school year, and most all of which I am aware already resolved the issue or are in the process of doing so," he said.

State Rep. Tom Morrison (R-Palatine) goes even further, openly questioning if the governor even has the power to do what he’s doing.

 "It violates constitutional checks and balances, public input, and local control," he told The Daily Herald. In a statement, he added school officials, parents and students themselves are better equipped to make determinations about what would be best for their individual communities.

Still, the governor pushes ahead.

"My goal has always been to safely bring all kids back into the classroom and, crucially, keep them there,” he said, arguing that science and common sense are on his side as evidenced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and The American Academy of Pediatrics both also standing in support of universal masking.

 "Without these measures, we will likely see many more outbreaks," he said. "As governor, it's my duty to take immediate and urgent action to slow the spread of the Delta variant of COVID-19.”