Macon Reporter

Republican candidate for the 96th Illinois House District Lisa Smith is concerned over Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s emergency power use.

Smith sounded the alarm on Facebook saying the governor is oppressing Illinoisans.

“Enough is enough!" Smith said. "He has no right to do this to our state. Our citizens and businesses are suffering under this tyranny. We are the laughing stock of the nation. Get him out. Vote him out in November.”

On July 22, Pritzker granted himself emergency powers due to COVID-19 for the 32nd time. At the end of this declaration, he will have had emergency authority for 895 of 1,315 days in office, or two-thirds of his term. He has issued 116 executive orders with these powers. 

State Rep. Adam Niemerg (R-Dietrich) said that this is more about political power than public health.

“This has never been about making clear, concise decisions for the future of Illinoisans during the pandemic,” he said, according to Illinois Policy.

The state of the pandemic has changed drastically since his first emergency declaration, with hospitalizations drastically reduced and the creation of a vaccine. State law gives the governor emergency powers for 30 days, and Pritzker has just kept renewing the emergency powers. Thirty-four states require legislative action in order to extend executive emergency powers, according to Illinois Policy. 

As the new school year looms, there is concern that there could be more “chaos” regarding COVID-19 guidance. In the previous year, school districts across the state were creating their own COVID policies, but the state came in with universal masking and other dictates. 

“They were given autonomy at the local level and then at the last minute, a week before school starts, the [Illinois Department of Public Health] and the [Illinois State Board of Education] dropped new rules, standardized the process and really threw chaos into the start of the school year,” State Sen. John Curran (R-Lemont) said. 

He added that this must be avoided this year. This comes as obtained state emails show that bureaucrats knew that parents could get religious exemptions from certain mandates, but the bureaucrats looked to deny parents these exemptions. No guidance has been issued this year by the state, but Curran noted it must be issued quickly so that districts have time to provide feedback and implement the policies, The Center Square reported.

According to the Illinois Department of Public Health website, Pritzker signed Executive Order 2022-16 on July 12, dictating rules for health care workers testing and vaccination. Last Sept. 3, he issued Executive Order 21-22 which required all people over the age of 2 who can medically tolerate a face covering to wear one in all indoor places. It also required health care workers, school personnel, higher education personnel and students, and employees and contractors of state-owned or operated congregate facilities to be fully vaccinated. Numerous times, Pritzker has extended his Executive Orders since the pandemic began, dictating how Illinoisans should live their lives.

Smith will face incumbent Democrat Sue Scherer, who has been in office since 2013, for the 96th Illinois House seat. Smith defeated primary challenger Prescott Paulin with 66% of the vote. The central Illinois district stretches from Decatur to Springfield, Ballotpedia reported.