Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

After slamming the governor for not vaccinating legislators, Rep. Kifowit now says she’s leaning toward waiting

Posted in:

Illinois
Updated Posts

* Shot…

Emails show Rep. Stephanie Kifowit (D-Oswego) was one of the state lawmakers lobbying @GovPritzker to move politicians up in vaccine line.

“It is beginning to feel like the Governor is purposely working against the legislature returning to do the work of the people,” she wrote. pic.twitter.com/UGGGfdSDH9

— Mark Maxwell (@MarkMaxwellTV) February 4, 2021

* Chaser…

State Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, a Democrat from Oswego, said she is leaning toward waiting but plans to make a decision after consulting her doctor — something she said every lawmaker should do. Kifowit said vaccinating lawmakers is important to state government’s ability to function.

*Facepalm* Just own it, please. C’mon.

* She still managed to get in a dig at Republicans, though…

Kifowit found it ironic that Republicans who voted against remote voting in the legislature would also be critical of Pritzker’s adding lawmakers to Phase 1B of vaccine distribution.

“They must not believe in the continuance of government like I do,” Kifowit said. “I think that we need to get to work. We need to do everything in our power to make sure we can do the work of the people.”

Um, OK.

…Adding… Eleni Demertzis from the HGOP…

Legislators can easily do their jobs by wearing a mask and following the guidelines put forth by IDPH on how the General Assembly can meet safely. Follow the science and stop thinking you are better than the hundreds of thousands of workers that have to show up to their jobs everyday, including your dedicated legislative staff.

* Meanwhile, WCBU has a story about some central Illinois Republican legislators who say they won’t be vaccinated until it’s their turn. But the reporter also interviewed a member of the Senate’s 41-member super-majority…

Meanwhile, State Sen. Dave Koehler, D-Peoria, said he and his wife, who already were in phase 1B prior to the governor’s change on Wednesday, have received the first dose of the two-dose vaccine.

“I think that whatever the governor does, (the Republicans are) gonna have a criticism,” said Koehler. “The legislature does need to meet.”

He said the General Assembly has numerous concerns it needs to deal with, including the state budget.

“I think this helps to ease the feelings that we can meet and somehow be safe,” Koehler said. “I think the real issue is that we have to have more vaccine, it has to be distributed quicker, in a more ethical way.”

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Feb 5, 21 @ 10:37 am

Comments

“I think that whatever the governor does, (the Republicans are) gonna have a criticism,”

As a super-majority party statewide, this needs to be their mentality and message over the next two years, as the Republicans step up their attacks with their eyes on statewide offices.

Comment by NIU Grad Friday, Feb 5, 21 @ 10:42 am
I’ll guess that more lawmakers than not wind up taking the shot. But that many choose not to share any pictures on social media while doing to.

Comment by Cool Papa Bell Friday, Feb 5, 21 @ 10:45 am
=“I think that whatever the governor does, (the Republicans are) gonna have a criticism,” said Koehler.=

Not a Koehler fan, but the evidence (and I mean ample evidence) supports this statement.

Kifowit needs to pick a lane, it is tiring.

Comment by JS Mill Friday, Feb 5, 21 @ 10:46 am
This is the same strong leadership that resulted in Speaker Kifowit. Hold on, I’m being told that didn’t happen. We regret the error.

Comment by Precinct Captain Friday, Feb 5, 21 @ 10:47 am
Emails, amirite?

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Feb 5, 21 @ 10:53 am
The fight that didn’t need to be picked results in the result that where no one will win.

Comment by Not for nothing Friday, Feb 5, 21 @ 11:04 am
And again - was there any community spread from the positive case during lame duck?

Maybe the mitigations in the work place work?

Comment by Cool Papa Bell Friday, Feb 5, 21 @ 11:08 am
OW +1

Just because you have a social media tool, it’s not always wise to use it or use it without a lot of forethought. We still have phones. Pick it up and call a mentor or colleague for counsel.

Comment by Norseman Friday, Feb 5, 21 @ 11:14 am
CPB: I believe more than one case resulted from Lame Duck…

Comment by Rosie Friday, Feb 5, 21 @ 11:15 am
What’s that saying? I was for it before I was against it?

Comment by Bruce( no not him) Friday, Feb 5, 21 @ 11:25 am
Okay I can see the spin here, but I can also read her statement as advocating for the ability of legislators to get the vaccine if they feel they need it to be safe. She doesn’t reference herself in that email, and it can be read as a way to get back to work. Of course in today’s environment of quick to judge and catchy headlines she gets the brunt of the criticism for speaking out about this matter.

Comment by Okay Friday, Feb 5, 21 @ 11:40 am
===She doesn’t reference herself in that email===

lol

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Feb 5, 21 @ 11:41 am
Indeed a fight that didn’t need to be picked and now Didech and Kifowit need to take their shots and smile for the cameras.

Comment by Adroit Opiner Friday, Feb 5, 21 @ 11:42 am
- They must not believe in the continuance -

Twice now she can’t seem to find the word “continuity”. Maybe third time will be the charm when she backtracks again to announce she’s getting the shot.

Comment by Excitable Boy Friday, Feb 5, 21 @ 11:49 am
Stephanie Kifowit can say what she wants but there’s only one individual who made Oswego famous and it’s not her. It’s the honest and humble man.

Comment by Town Tribune Friday, Feb 5, 21 @ 12:04 pm
=== there’s only one individual who made Oswego famous and it’s not her. It’s the honest and humble man.===

Tom Cross thanks you, and his humility has come into question by another commenter recently.

What can’t be denied?

Nothing Happens in Illinois, until Oswego Has Her Say

It’s on the town seal… maybe.

To the post,

If it wasn’t about Kifowit, she shoulda added…

“While I will decline my own vaccination, it’s important for those who do qualify get vaccinated so the House and Senate can do the work of Illinois”

She didn’t.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Feb 5, 21 @ 12:08 pm
Consistency is overrated. Not sure how anyone wins with all of this hand wringing over the vaccines for 1b essential workers.

Comment by Dagmar Friday, Feb 5, 21 @ 12:10 pm
Despite the substantial progress from just 2-3 months ago with 1.2M vaccine doses in arms already, people always need something to argue about. How fortunate we are to be arguing about the exact order of distribution, not the lack of a vaccine. How fortunate we are to have the opportunity to meet under new leadership, rather than dealing with more spikes, mitigations, lawsuits, or DC dumpster fires.

Be well, be kind. Crisis is what we do. We got this.

Comment by thechampaignlife Friday, Feb 5, 21 @ 12:15 pm
State Representative Dan Didech is young, affluent and a successful attorney who comes from a wealthy family. It’s understandable why he wants the protection of vaccination and will now be able to get his wish. Are there some people that live in his district are at higher risk that are patiently waiting for their turn that might get sick or die before they get vaccinated? Will their family be featured in mail or tv commercials sharing their pain and outrage that the very vaccination that Rep. Didech clouted his way to getting early could have been the very one to save their more at risk loved one?

Comment by Frumpy White Guy Friday, Feb 5, 21 @ 12:18 pm
–Legislators can easily do their jobs by wearing a mask and following the guidelines put forth by IDPH on how the General Assembly can meet safely.–

Four people tested COVID positive after lame duck.

Demertzis must define “safely” like Darren Bailey - reckless disregard.

Comment by King Louis XVI Friday, Feb 5, 21 @ 12:23 pm
==…Adding… Eleni Demertzis from the HGOP…==

HGOP is the only caucus with people who have refused to wear masks on the floor

Comment by Precinct Captain Friday, Feb 5, 21 @ 12:37 pm
I’m an ‘at risk’ person, and I refuse to even try booking the shots until our First Responders and other much-higher risk groups get their shots. Continuity of government is the least of Illinois problems right now, since the whole remote session idea should have been set up long ago by both chambers, avoiding scenes like these with Kifowit, et al demonstrating their “leadership”.

Comment by thisjustinagain Friday, Feb 5, 21 @ 1:05 pm
=== Continuity of government is the least of Illinois problems right now, since the whole remote session idea should have been set up long ago by both chambers,===

“should have been”

Woulda. Coulda. Shoulda.

Which caucus in the House was more opposed… but… which leader wasn’t pushing it?

Shoulda been a no brainer, like the Senate, but the House… “… lotta other things…” factored in.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Feb 5, 21 @ 1:09 pm
Please rest assured, Senator Bailey will not be cutting any lines for the vaccines

Comment by 51st State GOP Friday, Feb 5, 21 @ 1:26 pm
“since the whole remote session idea should have been set up long ago by both chambers”

Yep. I think the jab at Republicans (any legislators, really) who didn’t vote for remote session is a fair shot, notwithstanding Rep Kifowit’s other wavering.

On the flip side the Democratic majority didn’t seem to feel any urgency to meet, remotely or otherwise, for most of the pandemic. The sudden urgent nature of getting the vaccine seems a bit overdramatic in that context. The reasoning may or may not make more sense to the insiders, but to many outside the Springfield bubble it looks more about clout and self-importance than it does work ethic.

Comment by Liandro Friday, Feb 5, 21 @ 2:33 pm
Attention Stephanie Kifowit : it’s not easy being from a town that has produced such superstar talent as Rob Baxley, Tom Cross, Slade Butter, Rita Garman,Tom Sharpe, and the humble and articulate man

who needs no introduction but.. could you do better?

Comment by Fifth Horsemen Friday, Feb 5, 21 @ 3:45 pm