* Press release…
In response to Governor Pritzker issuing a statewide mask mandate in Illinois schools, House Republican Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) released the following statement:
“For over a year, the Governor cut out a co-equal branch of government and ruled the state with unilateral authority instead of working collaboratively to handle the Covid-19 pandemic in Illinois. Governor Pritzker must put this continuing power trip aside and allow local health departments, elected officials, schools and most importantly, parents, to make decisions on these serious issues to help stop the spread of Covid-19.”
* IEA…
The pandemic is not over. The numbers in Illinois are going in the wrong direction. We need to keep our students in the classroom and keep them, and those who teach and work with them in schools, safe. Masks, along with other mitigation, such as ventilation, testing, appropriate cleaning and protective gear, are proven tactics.
The number one key to controlling the spread of the virus is vaccination. We encourage all who are able to get the vaccine to do so. It is the clearest path back to “normal” that exists and only about half of those eligible to receive the vaccine in Illinois have done so.
“We all want to get back to normal. Let’s pull together and take care of one another. Vax up and mask up. We owe it to our students and we owe it to each other,” said Kathi Griffin, president of the Illinois Education Association. “We’re so thankful to have leadership in this state that won’t let the virus fester and grow. But, it us up to all of us to bring COVID-19 to its knees.”
* IFT…
“We continue to be thankful for Governor Pritzker’s steady leadership throughout the pandemic. As school resumes soon in most Illinois districts, we welcome his updated mask mandate. With the large number of unvaccinated individuals and the rapid spread of the highly infectious Delta variant in Illinois, requiring masks in all schools is a prudent course of action.
“Science tells us that a layered approach will go a long way towards helping keep schools open and students, staff, and communities safe. In addition to mask wearing, we strongly urge all school districts and institutions of higher education to employ additional safety measures, including physical distancing, regular handwashing, adequate building ventilation, and regular COVID testing of students and educators.
“The sharp increase of COVID-19 cases in our state is a stark reminder that this pandemic is far from over. It is the responsibility of every one of us to do whatever is necessary to keep one another safe and bring this pandemic to an end. Our union takes that responsibility seriously and will continue to fight to help make that happen.”
Notice that neither union came out in favor of vax mandates.
This post may be updated.
*** UPDATE 1 *** Leader McConchie…
“The governor’s continued unilateral, go-it-alone approach on pandemic decision-making actively undermines the state’s ability to have broadly accepted mitigation strategies,” said Illinois Senate Republican Leader Dan McConchie (R-Hawthorn Woods).
“The Governor encourages the public to be ‘all in Illinois’, but he himself refuses to be ‘all in’ with state and local elected officials who better understand their geographic areas and their communities’ needs. If he really wants to achieve the best possible mitigation results, he would abandon this singular approach and instead bring others to the governing table to ensure that mitigation efforts will be broadly accepted by the populace and effectively implemented. By continuing to exclude other state and local leaders, he is failing the people of Illinois who need statewide coordination, input and buy in from the public.”
*** UPDATE 2 *** Jordan Abudayyeh…
Republicans need to spend less time complaining about doctors’ recommendations for ending this pandemic and more time actually trying to end it – by encouraging their supporters to get vaccinated.
…Adding… Gary Rabine…
Gary Rabine, a candidate for Governor, says JB Pritzker’s new school mask mandate is an unnecessary abuse of power, and he is calling on the Governor to allow school boards to make these decisions at the local level.
Rabine said the efficacy of mask mandates is sketchy at best. In the spring of 2020, a Danish study of 6,000 participants found that those who wore masks were just as likely to get COVID-19 as those who didn’t. Participants in the study were told to spend at least three hours outside their home and to practice social distancing and were then tested for COVID-19. The comprehensive study found no statistical advantage to those who wore masks.
“This is about control – not about science,” Rabine said. “We know that kids are at a low risk for the virus. Our kids had a rough year last year thanks to Governor Pritzker’s policies. We should allow local school boards to work with parents and students to set mask policies at the local level, instead of Pritzker’s one-size-fits-all solution. We need bold leadership, and we need to protect the rights of parents to make decisions for themselves and their children. I stand opposed to Governor Pritzker’s decision to infringe on parental rights.”
- Dance Band on the Titanic - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 3:18 pm:
===Notice that neither union came out in favor of vax mandates.===
Anyone have the percentage of IEA and IFT members who are fully vaccinated?
- Amalia - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 3:19 pm:
I’m tired of parents making decisions that can affect the health of the masses. get your kids vaccinated for whatever is available, wear masks to prevent the spread of this virus, listen to the governor who is advised by actual medical professionals.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 3:21 pm:
===“… Governor Pritzker must put this continuing power trip aside and allow local health departments, elected officials, schools and most importantly, parents, to make decisions on these serious issues to help stop the spread of Covid-19.”===
Leader Durkin,
Are you for a vaccine mandate?
It’s a yes or no question.
Thanks.
- dan l - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 3:25 pm:
This should give schools enough cover to just over rule the bad parents.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 3:26 pm:
Unions were created for the betterment of their membership, be it wages, working conditions, hours, benefits, even education and guaranteeing those in that union are the best, so giving them the tools in a contract to be the best possible includes… the health, safety, and welfare of membership, always.
*Any* organized labor group opposed to vaccination mandates is in actuality going against what being organized is all about.
- Moe Berg - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 3:29 pm:
I nominate Leader Durkin for the next Paul Simon-Jim Edgar Statesmanship Award.
With that statement he’s proven that, as the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute has it, “statesmanship is alive and well in the Prairie State.”
Governor Dillard can make the presentation.
- Anyone Remember - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 3:29 pm:
=== … working collaboratively … ===
The Legislative branch, to which you belong, acts on legislation and performs oversight of state government as a whole (via OAG, for example). Execution is the purview of the Executive branch. Were you under the impression that Illinois had a parliamentary form of government
- Norseman - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 3:29 pm:
About vax mandates, it’s past time. The union folks can say they discourage mandates for the benefit or their members’ “feelings,” but striking would be make a mockery of claims they’re for the health of their members and the clients.
- Publius - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 3:40 pm:
Guess the ILGOP is going all in on this with Senator Bailey. Guess they won’t be needing that moderate to run after all.
- Pundent - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 3:43 pm:
My advice to Governor Pritzker is do what needs to be done. The ILGOP, including even its so-called “moderate” members like Jim Durkin, can not be counted on to lead in this crisis and will undermine and criticize your efforts regardless of what you do. There is no middle ground to be found. Mandates, be they masks or vaccines, are now the only way to save lives. The virus is no longer in charge. Don’t allow the rest of us to be held hostage any longer.
- Huh? - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 3:50 pm:
===“… Governor Pritzker must stop protecting us from ourselves and allow local health departments, elected officials, schools and most importantly, parents, to make frivolous decisions that continue the spread of Covid-19.”===
Fixed it for ya.
- SAP - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 4:02 pm:
Is the Governor’s new mandate via a press release? I don’t see any Executive Orders after July 30, 2021 posted on his website.
- Cubs in '16 - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 4:12 pm:
I have just one question for Durkin and McConchie: Has the governor’s mitigations helped in controlling infections and thus, sickness and death?
- Not a Superstar - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 4:19 pm:
Powerful words from Leader Durkin (R-Eastern Bloc).
- El Conquistador - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 4:19 pm:
Let me fix the GOP’s comments: A “go-it-alone” approach to public measures does not work. It has to be a collective effort by all - either get vaccinated or continue complaining about mask mandates.
- Manchester - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 4:20 pm:
I’m tired of the same old same old from Durkin and McConchie. They just need to sit down and be quiet. They have nothing of value to add to the discussion, just the same old message of “Pritzker is bad”. The Governor has tried to do his level best to manage the pandemic in IL and I believe he’s done as well as anyone could have possibly done. Was he perfect? No, but he’s done a pretty darn good job. There’s a reason the GOP is a super minority in IL and Durkin and McConchie are part of that reason.
- Nobody Sent - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 4:22 pm:
Those in leadership positions who refuse to acknowledge the science and heed the advice of health experts do not belong in leadership positions. Being a leader includes knowing when to listen and who to listen to.
- BilboSwaggins - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 4:28 pm:
You may not like the idea of a mandate but at this point how many carrots do we have left to throw at these people before we have no choice but to use the stick?
- Commonsense in Illinois - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 4:35 pm:
Manchester is spot on. What Republicans ought to be saying is, “Governor, we support efforts to curb and eliminate the spread of the virus. What measures can the General Assembly take to help the state succeed in overcoming these challenges?”
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 4:35 pm:
To the update;
Leader McConchie,
Are you for a vaccine mandate?
It’s a yes or no question.
Thanks.
- Frank talks - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 4:39 pm:
Where is AFSCME?
Their members are not taking the vaccine in the prisons, vet homes, care facilities etc.
How is the leadership going to deal with this new mandate?
- Grandson of Man - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 4:44 pm:
Many unionized public employees probably support a vaccine mandate and have a responsibility to communicate their wishes to their union leaders. Union leaders also have a responsibility to survey the members. How many want to work in confined, indoor places during a raging Delta variant pandemic without the best in protections?
Perhaps a solution is mandating vaccines or regular testing for those who can’t get shots or simply refuse.
- Barrington - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 4:46 pm:
I give Governor Pritzker high marks for leadership. Totally agree with Dan 1’s comment at 3:25. Otherwise there will be many school districts having similar Board meetings as in District 45.
https://abc7chicago.com/10928540/
- Ok - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 5:04 pm:
Wonder if they are going to force the incarcerated to get vaccinated as those who work there have to be forced to get the vaccine. All for vaccinations but not by being mandated.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 5:07 pm:
- Ok -
(Sigh)
Those who work in prisons are their of their own free choice. To keep working there, a mandated vaccine.
I don’t think the incarcerated see their time there as optional or a choice for them.
You work in a prison, vaccinate, or don’t work in a prison.
It *is* that simple.
- Or - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 5:20 pm:
My sincere apologies. I assumed those those incarcerated had a choice to put them where they at, that forcing staff to be vaccinated to protect those that are in custody, but not vaccinating the incarcerated to protect the others that are incarcerated or the staff….but your right…
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 5:28 pm:
=== I assumed those those incarcerated had a choice to put them where they at===
“Sure, Joe Friday”
It’s quite interesting that Labor whose goal seemingly always is for the best interests of their membership doesn’t think mandating a vaccine for health is important
They’ll ask for 8 hours off for doctors’ appointments but won’t mandate life saving vaccines?
Oh.
- Grandson of Man - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 5:41 pm:
“Rabine said the efficacy of mask mandates is sketchy at best.”
Multiple studies show masks work in reducing COVID spread. Eyes are barely needed to see that the pandemic is raging in anti-mitigation, anti-vax states.
If this is what Pritzker has to face in his re-election bid, he might want to hang onto some campaign cash, as he might not need it.
- Pundent - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 6:02 pm:
=“This is about control – not about science,” Rabine said. “We know that kids are at a low risk for the virus.=
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jemimamcevoy/2021/08/04/covid-cases-among-children-jumped-84-last-week-here-are-the-states-where-hospitalizations-are-increasing/?sh=2d150c353be9
- Austinman - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 6:32 pm:
Are these people really educated just get vaccinated geesh, I see nothing wrong with wearing a mask
- JS Mill - Thursday, Aug 5, 21 @ 8:32 am:
=I nominate Leader Durkin for the next Paul Simon-Jim Edgar Statesmanship Award.
With that statement he’s proven that, as the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute has it, “statesmanship is alive and well in the Prairie State.”=
What both you and Rep Durkin fail to understand is that the ILGOP is not a “co-equal” branch of government. Party leaders like Durkin, McConchie, Bailey, and Miller have only attacked the governor. Why would he consult them when their position on this matter is clear? I see nothing to indicate that Pritzker did not consult with the speaker or senate president (zero opposition from the two super majorities).
So in reality, Durkin has not demonstrated anything like leadership as he lets the far right drive the ILGOP into further obscurity.
- Out of Illinois - Thursday, Aug 5, 21 @ 9:30 am:
Just curious, who is actually running the state of Illinois? The Governor, the Legislature, the Courts, or the Teachers unions? I’ll sit down and wait for the answer.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Aug 5, 21 @ 9:33 am:
You’re “Out if Illinois”, what do you care?
Pretty sad, actually, your even care
Go live your life…move on… you “showed us”, LOL
- Out of Illinois - Thursday, Aug 5, 21 @ 1:46 pm:
Any chance that you’ll actually answer the question I asked?