* House Republican Leader Jim Durkin…
The new Stay At Home order that includes many recommendations from the House Republican caucus is the first step in moving Illinois forward. Working together and implementing smart policy decisions will increase the safety of Illinois residents and allow our economy to begin opening up in an equitable fashion while still protecting employees and customers. I want Illinoisans to know that the Executive Order is not final, but it is a working document subject to change. While I am pleased with today’s actions, we must do more to restore economic vitality of the state while maintaining the health and safety of our citizens.
* Rep. Darren Bailey…
– State Rep. Darren Bailey filed a lawsuit today (April 23) against Governor J.B. Pritzker for a violation of civil rights.
“My lawsuit asks the court to find that Gov. Pritzker overextended his power by issuing additional ‘stay at home’ orders after his original disaster proclamation, which expired on April 9th, 2020,” said Bailey
(R-Xenia). “Enough is enough. I filed this lawsuit on behalf of myself and my constituents who are ready to go back to work and resume a normal life.”
While special emergency powers were granted to the governor through the Emergency Management Act in the late 1980’s by the Illinois General assembly, the unprecedented power and authority he wields under the current crisis calls for an immediate review and reconsideration of legislative intent.
Complaint. Legal brief.
*** UPDATE 1 *** Senate GOP Leader Bill Brady…
I am pleased this stay-at-home extension contains recommendations submitted by Senate Republicans that will ease some of the onerous restrictions on small businesses, essential health care procedures, and state parks. This will allow residents the opportunity to avail themselves of these activities and services while maintaining the proper social-distancing protocols.
However, one area not included in this extension was a regional, phased-in reopening of our state. Downstate communities, while following the proper social distancing guidelines, are not seeing the same number of cases, but they’re suffering just the same economically.
Thirty days is a long time, and the Governor has said the peak could be reached by the end of this month or early May. He must continue to monitor the data with the hope that we can ease restrictions before May 30 if it is safe to do so. We have to realize COVID-19 is our new normal, and it is time to address how all businesses, essential or otherwise, operate safely.
*** UPDATE 2 *** Jordan Abudayyeh…
At every step of the response to this deadly pandemic, the Governor has followed the guidance of public health experts and used the emergency powers authorized in State law to protect the health and lives of all Illinoisans.
As the experts outlined today, we are now seeing that the stay at home orders and other emergency steps have started to slow the spread of the coronavirus and are making a significant difference.
Now is not the time to stop our work, because we must remember lives are at stake. It is truly unfortunate that a legislator is working against our public health efforts.
- Mr. K. - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 4:40 pm:
I will watch Rep. Bailey’s petri dish with great interest.
But I will do it indoors.
- GOB Bluth - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 4:41 pm:
Do I win an award for guessing the exact legislator who filed the suit before reading the post?
- Todd & Margo - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 4:45 pm:
Can Rep Bailey be named the Co Golden Horseshoe winner for goofiest state legislator in 2020?
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 4:46 pm:
=== “My lawsuit asks the court to find that Gov. Pritzker overextended his power by issuing additional ‘stay at home’ orders after his original disaster proclamation, which expired on April 9th, 2020,” said Bailey (R-Xenia). “Enough is enough. I filed this lawsuit on behalf of myself and my constituents who are ready to go back to work and resume a normal life.”===
Even Beetle Bailey thinks this is comic strip tomfoolery.
Mr. Bailey would like to put many peoples lives in danger to own the libs… when you are thoughtless, that one gnawing thought … festers
- Wow - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 4:46 pm:
Did Mr Eastern Bloc look at the make up of the Illinois Supreme Court?? It’s gonna take a lot of money to see this thru. LOL .. publicity stunt
- Retired ISP - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 4:54 pm:
Is this one of those times where you bluster a lot and secretly pray it fails, then you can pander to you base without real harm? I’m getting very cynical as I age.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 4:56 pm:
Thank you Leader Durkin for that statement.
Hopefully we all can again see the need to work together, and everyone pulling the same way.
Well said.
- Chicago Cynic - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 4:59 pm:
Bailey. Oy vey.
- Demoralized - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 5:03 pm:
==and resume a normal life==
Life isn’t going to be “normal” for quite sometime. Unfortunately you have goofs like this who think that you can just flip a switch and say, “yep, everything is fine now, time to move on.”
I’m embarassed for him.
- Nagidam - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 5:05 pm:
Quite frankly I think the governor is handling this well. If the Data improves, I think he will lift this order early. I also think with Leader Durkin’s tone today he sets up a good dialogue and maybe gets more restrictions lifted over time.
- Cornfield Cowboy - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 5:06 pm:
Bailey is a citizen of Cole County or Clay County? I was unaware of Cole County, when was it created?
- 62401 - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 5:21 pm:
Chris Miller from Coles…Bailey from Clay ?
- wondering - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 5:22 pm:
The Bailey complaint says Pritzker lacks the authority to continue a disaster declaration past 30 days.
I didn’t see anything about civil rights.
- PublicServant - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 5:29 pm:
=== R-Xenia ===
Is this a type-o Rich? Isn’t this rep from Xeniaphobia? Asking for a friend.
- MyTwoCents - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 5:55 pm:
I hate to break it to Rep. Bailey, but per capita COVID cases some of the highest rates are downstate counties. I just ran some math and some of the higher counties are Jasper, Pulaski and Randolph.
- Economics Matter - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 5:59 pm:
Bailey is representing the views of millions of Illinoisans. One of the great failures of Illinois Government, among many, is that Chicago styled leadership is unwilling to recognize regional differences.
Economic differences, geographic differences, etc.
That unwillingness damages Central and Southern Illinois, and reinforces the narrative that Chicago doesn’t care about “down state.” In turn, many people are simply not going to comply. This state is ungovernable. This latest E.O. will show that.
- Jibba - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 6:14 pm:
===one area not included in this extension was a regional, phased-in reopening of our state===
That’s because it is nonsense. Check to the outbreaks of virus in nursing homes all over central and Southern Illinois. Community spread is happening and is just waiting for a relaxation, even in Xenia or Bloomington.
- Give Me A Break - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 6:49 pm:
Economics Matter, there are 15 cases in Sherman Illinois. I presume you know and understand Sherman isn’t in Cook County or a major metro area?
- PublicServant - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 7:14 pm:
=== Chicago doesn’t care about “down state.===
Neither does the covid.
- Banmecauseimrep - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 7:22 pm:
Bailey is heroic in the face of the Chicago machine.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 7:25 pm:
=== is heroic in the face of the Chicago machine===
If you are going to mouth breathe that heavy, please, wear that mask.
To the Update,
It’s thoughtful by Leader Brady.
It’s also very regional.
- Cadillac - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 7:57 pm:
=== It’s also very regional. ===
Much like the virus.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 8:05 pm:
=== Much like the virus.===
96 of 102 counties.
Keep up
- Candy Dogood - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 8:06 pm:
So if they get the downstate response they want they’re going to see a disaster.
- SIUEalum - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 8:13 pm:
Looks like a county in Bailey’s district has the second highest per capita rate in the state.
- JB13 - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 8:22 pm:
That response from the governor did not address the legal claims. At all.
There’s an easy way to negate this. Convene the General Assembly. Pass a law explicitly granting the governor the power he is now exercising. Go home. Not hard.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 8:28 pm:
===There’s an easy way to negate this===
Meh. The statute is completely silent on whether he can do more than one.
- billyboy - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 8:29 pm:
I never in my life ever thought that I would have to say that I am ashamed to live in Clay county Illinois JB is the best governor that we have had in years and is doing his job well
- OneMan - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 8:30 pm:
Fine. Then downstate you get the support for your current level of cases, that’s it.
Also you will get the advantage of finding levels from the state without the economic activity of big bad Chicagoland.
Go ask your nursing homes if they think this is a good idea poindexter
- Adolfo - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 8:33 pm:
Jasper County, which is in Rep. Bailey’s district, has 40 cases — or 417 cases per 100,000 population, the second-highest per capita rate in the state. Cook County has 494 cases per 100,000.
- Lynn S. - Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 11:27 pm:
I believe the population in Jasper County is just under 10,000. It has 40 Covid-19 cases.
Jefferson County (Mt. Vernon) is under 40,000, and they have 75 cases and 5 deaths.
Cole’s County has 18 cases, tied to the sheriff’s office.
All of these counties are downstate, and voted 75% or more for Trump.
In contrast, I’m in Champaign County, with a population of over 220,000 and 95 cases.
The rural counties are about to get the living snot smacked out of them.
The only thing I can think is that they know they aren’t going to do well, so they’re hoping they can go out into the woods and die without being hooked up to a bunch of machines in the hospital.
The fact that they’ll still be dead from “the China virus” and the incompetence of the president they so eagerly voted for doesn’t seem to have sunk in, and may never.
SMH at the stupid. It’s gotta be something in the water. I can’t think of any other explanation.
- Huh? - Friday, Apr 24, 20 @ 8:01 am:
Someone should give Rep. Bailey a lesson in public health law. Your civil rights don’t mean much when that law is wielded.
- Froganon - Friday, Apr 24, 20 @ 10:12 am:
The weak, evil parent in me wants to say “Fine, eat the whole (banned word) bag of candy. The wise parent doesn’t want to clean up the afterwmath. The grown-ups take the heat, the kids have a hissy fit. How many of these folks have to die before they understand what’s at stake?
- boatibg - Friday, Apr 24, 20 @ 12:38 pm:
Rep. Bailey should move to Georgia,he would be a perfect fit with that goofy Governor there.
- Woodridge Willy - Friday, Apr 24, 20 @ 4:24 pm:
is that same Darren Bailey who wa sharing anti-vaxx posts on facebook?