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* After the climate/energy bill passed today, Senate President Don Harmon and others involved with the legislation held a press conference. There were a couple of off-topic questions, including this one…
Q: President Harmon, another beautiful thing of the General Assembly is to provide a check to the governor’s authority. When are you guys gonna take up the various mandates, going on 19 months of executive orders?
A: Well I think that, in particular, right now, we are so focused on getting kids back into school safely and keeping them there. The governor seems to have been following the science and it seems to be working. And I’m going to keep my fingers crossed that my daughter is going to stay through her high school year without interruption, and that kids across the state are going to be able to say the same thing.
Q: Isn’t that the job of the General Assembly to have some skin in this game, to have the local elected representatives actually sound off on these things and cast those votes?
A: Again, I don’t think there’s been any shortage of debate at the local level or at the state level. I think that we are all comfortable following the science and everything does seem to be working so [knocks on the podium] knock wood we’re gonna keep going in the right direction.
* The Question: How satisfied are you with the Illinois General Assembly’s response to the pandemic? Make sure to explain your answers, please.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Sep 13, 21 @ 3:37 pm
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Previous Post: Legislators respond to somewhat odd hit piece
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I read CapFax nearly every day. I don’t recall (and correct me if I’m wrong) of the House or Senate taking any action with regard to the Governor’s orders. We are a year and a half in, and they let him do as he pleases.
This isn’t to insult the job done by the Governor but I am concerned that House and Senate haven’t made any attempt to manage the response.
I’m completely unsatisfied.
Comment by Crash Monday, Sep 13, 21 @ 3:45 pm
I’m generally satisfied, but I am generally satisfied with all the Governor’s EO’s, so I have not had a reason to feel the GA needs to be a counterbalance.
Also, the needs of the pandemic shift often. It is much easier to let the Governor respond quickly to emerging needs than follow the slower legislative process.
Comment by Montrose Monday, Sep 13, 21 @ 3:48 pm
I for one, wish they had been more active and engaged on these issues, if for no other reason than to reinforce the Governor’s decisions and put an end to this kind of second-guessing of them. Would also have gone a long way to stop the nonsensical lawsuits.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Monday, Sep 13, 21 @ 3:50 pm
I’m with Ron Burgundy. Legislature should have been viewed as actively overseeing the Governor’s actions. Not necessarily being critical of everything the Governor did - every Gov is still feeling their way. But the act of oversight itself would have fed into a message of democracy and unity even in the most trying and uncertain times.
Comment by phocion Monday, Sep 13, 21 @ 3:56 pm
The last thing you want is 177 micro governors trying to run the state on a daily basis.
This has been handled well.
Comment by Asteroid of caution Monday, Sep 13, 21 @ 4:01 pm
===satisfied===
The key word, obviously.
I’m as satisfied as I would be given inaction is a decided action by the majority that, by happenstance, shares the same party with the governor.
I would probably be “unsatisfied” if I felt masks were not needed, vaccines should be at the very most voluntary, and I needed “freedom” from preventive measures.
The inaction of this General Assembly, as a whole 177 member bicameral equal branch, defaults to the governor.
I’ve been relatively pleased with the Governor’s covid response, so a passive GA has my satisfaction at a level of “ok”
I woulda liked some votes to get some folks on the record, that would’ve satisfied me greater, but is it about the “gotcha” politics of the virus and senseless debate where facts are not in agreement, or saving lives with as much power and less resistance to help?
My answer is “ok”, I’m that satisfied, but not overjoyed or thrilled at any high level. Nope.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Sep 13, 21 @ 4:04 pm
Not too dissatisfied. Getting mad at EO’s and “King JB” misses the point. Get vaccinated and follow pandemic heath rules, and don’t worry if Pritzker or the GA makes the rules. Worrying about that looks like an excuse to not do the right things.
Comment by Grandson of Man Monday, Sep 13, 21 @ 4:05 pm
It is much like when the GA passes a “lump budget” to avoid being on the hook for cuts.
The GA does not like to get too far in the weeds when things get hot. Whether COIVD restrictions or budget cuts, the GA is not made up of a lot of profiles in courage. Better to let the Gov wear the jacket for things the public might get upset over.
Frankly, I’m glad they have avoided being micromanagers.
Comment by Give Me A Break Monday, Sep 13, 21 @ 4:09 pm
I’m satisfied because the governor has the tools to respond quickly to new developments and situations involving Covid. The legislature would only need to take action if the governor wasn’t responding appropriately. Unlike governors in many states, Pritzker has done a good job.
Comment by OldSmoky2 Monday, Sep 13, 21 @ 4:14 pm
VERY satisfied. The GA is a LEGISLATIVE body, not an EXECUTIVE body. This is a once a century disaster. Sui Generis.
Comment by Anyone Remember Monday, Sep 13, 21 @ 4:18 pm
The EO’s have been in the best interest of Illinoisans in mitigating the pandemic. The Illinois General Assembly took action when needed with respect to the pandemic financial aid. That’s not the action the GOP wanted, which is to carryout a subversive attack on public health efforts for its partisan advantage.
When the vaccines become available to all school age kids, I would like the ILGA to mandate vaccinations for all kids and teachers.
Comment by Norseman Monday, Sep 13, 21 @ 4:18 pm
It appears to me that the gov and his team have been open to their input throughout this process. There is nothing they need to do legislatively so providing input is their role. In that sense, they have been as involved as they want to be even if they’ve postured differently publicly.
Comment by Southern Skeptic Monday, Sep 13, 21 @ 4:19 pm
Pretty satisfied. It would seem very odd to me if a legislature felt the need to enact a law to address a public health crisis/emergency when sufficient law exists on the books.
I’m also not one of those folks that thinks the executive orders represent a massive restriction on liberty. A community that wants to make rules about washing hands before serving food should expect there to be rules about wearing masks during a deadly airborne pandemic.
Comment by Candy Dogood Monday, Sep 13, 21 @ 4:21 pm
The legislative branch has done their thing. Governors own. The good. The bad.
Comment by Blue Dog Monday, Sep 13, 21 @ 4:26 pm
Inaction is an action by a co-equal branch of government.
There’s wisdom, practical and political, in it.
All these shouters demanding the GA “do something” have much less to say about precisely what it is the GA should be doing (other than the anti-mask/vax nuts, who have very definite ideas that should be ignored) or what they think the governor’s done wrong.
Some, like Rep. Baticnick, have politely proposed impractical and unworkable ideas and micro-regionalizing masking requirements. But, informed observers know that’s just the rep trying to appease the extremists in his district and avoid a primary.
Others, like Leader Durkin, have unconvincingly and thunderingly pandered about letting the local schools decide.
What legit great ideas aren’t being considered that the GA should be taking the governor to task over?
Comment by Moe Berg Monday, Sep 13, 21 @ 4:35 pm
“Lead, follow, or get out of the way”
They have been doing a good job of getting out of the way.
Comment by Bruce( no not him) Monday, Sep 13, 21 @ 4:45 pm
Had the legislative branch been unhappy with the Gov’s orders, they could have stepped up and stopped them at any time, that’s not in dispute. I’m glad they did not.
Comment by cermak_rd Monday, Sep 13, 21 @ 4:46 pm
I’m pretty grateful that there wasn’t much of a response.
Comment by Furtive Look Monday, Sep 13, 21 @ 4:58 pm
Pathetic. They were quick to pass stuff like rental assistance and giving away free money, but not up for any heavy lifting because they knew whatever they did would upset someone, so just ignored it all while staying focused on their own political futures.
Comment by Just Me 2 Monday, Sep 13, 21 @ 5:00 pm
The legislature has already provided for all of the authority the governor needs. Does the reporter know that some laws have sunset dates and most don’t? You can’t pretend a law ceased to be just because you don’t like what the governor is doing with it.
Comment by Socially DIstant Watcher Monday, Sep 13, 21 @ 5:05 pm
I think they would have added some value if they had come out and agreed with the Governor on some stuff instead of just not complaining.
It’s a bit like when the replay official says the ruling on the field is confirmed vs upheld, the result is the same but saying it is confirmed says the right call was made vs upheld which says we don’t have information to change the result.
Comment by OneMan Monday, Sep 13, 21 @ 5:05 pm
I give the Governor pretty good marks on how he’s handling the Pandemic. Looking at our last four Governors Pritzker is the best of the lot for sure.
Comment by The Dude Abides Monday, Sep 13, 21 @ 5:23 pm
Jay Hoffman answered it better when he just walked out.
Comment by Ok Monday, Sep 13, 21 @ 5:26 pm
The GA response has been pretty weak. They should have been meeting and taking the lead.
Comment by ;) Monday, Sep 13, 21 @ 5:33 pm
Satisfied
A crisis requires swift decisive action. The opposite of the GA’s MO.
Comment by Sir Reel Monday, Sep 13, 21 @ 5:36 pm
=== They should have been meeting and taking the lead.===
If agencies are under the executive, how exactly should the legislature decide to lead agencies and their roles since agencies aren’t under the direction of the legislature?
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Sep 13, 21 @ 5:36 pm
There seems to be an interest by many parties to have someone else make decisions, so they can follow without having to state which side THEY fall on the issue.
Almost like, if things don’t work out well they can say they were never really for those decisions
Comment by Crow930 Monday, Sep 13, 21 @ 5:40 pm
Illinois General Assembly’s response to the pandemic?
Some legislators are helpful and others are not.
My advice: If you can’t be part of the solution, don’t be a part of the problem.
Comment by Mama Monday, Sep 13, 21 @ 5:41 pm
== They should have been meeting and taking the lead.==
Please retake HS civics…the answer has already been given several times over. The clearest so far:
==The GA is a LEGISLATIVE body, not an EXECUTIVE body. ==
Personally, I’m very satisfied. Most of these folks understand their jobs.
Comment by Pot calling kettle Monday, Sep 13, 21 @ 5:47 pm
Didn’t the GA weigh in when they passed the Illinois Emergency Management Act?
Comment by Confusion Monday, Sep 13, 21 @ 5:48 pm
=Didn’t the GA weigh in when they passed the Illinois Emergency Management Act?=
This is the correct response. Nobody ever said that all emergencies must have a pre-defined shelf life. If the GA and/or reporters have an issue with this, they can take it up with Covid.
Comment by Pundent Monday, Sep 13, 21 @ 5:53 pm
Very satisfied.
Sometimes staying outta the way is the best way to help.
– MrJM
Comment by MisterJayEm Monday, Sep 13, 21 @ 5:58 pm
Very Satisfied.
The laws passed by the ILGA empowered the executive and his agencies to act as others have stated.
Those that don’t recognize that fact should not be part of government and are usually the ones crying about civics education.
Comment by JS Mill Monday, Sep 13, 21 @ 6:21 pm
Satisfied. Obviously the number of hospitalizations is proof enough that the public health emergency is still with us. While there have been ups and downs since we returned to Phase 5, it simply isn’t practical to have the General Assembly convene when circumstances change or when there are discrepancies between regions requiring different mitigation strategies.
The underlying authority remains for the Governor and IDPH to protect public health by reasonable means. That’s what is already happening. No need to change.
Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Sep 13, 21 @ 6:58 pm
Pretty weak sauce from Senator Harmon.
With the legislature out of session and unable to meet even virtually through much of the pandemic there was certainly a shortage of debate on important issues like the mandated closing of small businesses while large stores remained open.
Truly amazing the legislature can step away from their constitutional duty for oversight of the executive branch for 19 months just because he is a fellow Democrat.
Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, Sep 13, 21 @ 7:01 pm
Very satisfied.
=Didn’t the GA weigh in when they passed the Illinois Emergency Management Act?=
This.
==Sometimes staying outta the way is the best way to help.==
And this.
And what others have said in the same vein. The answer isn’t always more legislation. Sometimes the answer is letting the legislation and systems that are already in place work.
Comment by Leslie K Monday, Sep 13, 21 @ 7:39 pm
So was Amy Jacobson in Springfield today for the press conference?
Comment by Frank talks Monday, Sep 13, 21 @ 8:50 pm
Very satisfied.
This isn’t something to be done by committee.
Comment by Proud Papa Bear Monday, Sep 13, 21 @ 9:43 pm
Extremely satisfied. This part of the question is odd though:
“President Harmon, another beautiful thing of the General Assembly is to provide a check”.
Beautiful thing?
Comment by low level Tuesday, Sep 14, 21 @ 9:17 am
@Anonymous 9:08 AM,
So what’s your timeline for emergencies like a global pandemic to end? See that’s the thing with emergency executive orders. They should continue until the emergency is over. This pandemic is not over.
To the Question: The legislature did weigh in when it gave authority to the Governor, whoever that is during an emergency, to act and “execute” orders to blunt the impact and devastation of an emergency however long the emergency lasts.
Comment by Steve Polite Tuesday, Sep 14, 21 @ 9:21 am
I should have added I’m satisfied, obviously.
Comment by Steve Polite Tuesday, Sep 14, 21 @ 9:23 am
“So was Amy Jacobson in Springfield today for the press conference? ”
Nope Greg Bishop, seemed to be gloating about it on the radio today.
Comment by Listener Tuesday, Sep 14, 21 @ 10:21 am