Chicago City Wire

Government watchdog Wirepoints argues that a recently introduced bill proves Democrats don't believe Gov. J.B. Pritzker has the authority to impose a school masking mandate.  

“A lawmaker introduced a bill that would give the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) authority to punish schools not following Gov. Pritzker’s COVID rules, which signals the governor and ISBE don’t yet have that authority,” the organization posted on its Twitter page.

Proposed by state Rep. Edgar Gonzalez Jr. (D-Chicago), House Bill 4135 would give ISBE the authority to “revoke the standing of a district for not following health rules during times of disaster declared by the governor.”

Veteran state Rep. Tim Butler (R-Springfield) views the legislation in the same light as Wirepoints.

“I think this is an admission, at least upon Rep. Gonzalez, that the governor’s executive order doesn’t have the force of law when it comes to this particular thing,” he said. “If he’s introducing legislation to make it law, then the executive order doesn't have the force of law. Look, these decisions need to be made locally in my opinion.”

As some districts have resisted the mandate, the governor has placed nearly 60 schools on probation, meaning they are no longer recognized by ISBE, potentially threatening state funding for those schools. If they comply, the state can restore recognition.

AWAKE Illinois founder Shannon Adcock has also opposed the governor's mandate.

“The Illinois State Board of Education does not in fact have the power to revoke recognition status of schools [over COVID orders],” she posted on Twitter. “They’re trying to retroactively cover their tracks.”

Adcock said she has no doubt where the vast majority of voters stand on the measure, pointing out that it closely mirrors House Bill 2789, which passed the House back in April but by the time it had rated a Senate committee hearing, nearly 17,000 witness slips were signed opposing it.