Rep. Murphy Responds to Pritzker’s Latest Unilateral Mask Mandate

SPRINGFIELD – State Representative Mike Murphy (R-Springfield) issued the following statement after Governor Pritzker announced unilateral action by the executive branch to institute a new mask mandate in all Illinois Schools:

“When the COVID-19 pandemic first began, then House Speaker Madigan was happy to let the legislature sit on the sidelines and allow the Governor to issue unilateral decision after decision. It’s a year and a half since the pandemic began, we have a wealth of more information about COVID-19 and how to treat it, and a new Speaker Welch who promised a ‘new day’ with a more involved and open House of Representatives. If that is the case, then the Speaker should call the House back into session so the legislature can take an active role, as a co-equal branch of government, in whether or not to issue a new mask mandate in our schools or leave it up to the local officials, health leaders and parents to make the best decision for their communities and families. It’s long past time for the Governor to stop acting alone.”