East Central Reporter

Veteran state Sen. Jason Plummer (R-Edwardsville) is taking a stand against Gov. J.B. Pritzker in what he sees as his one-man army approach in imposing COVID-19 guidelines for schools across the state.

"Schools, first responders, small businesses, hospitals and many others have been put in difficult spots but, working together, Illinoisans have done their best during this unprecedented pandemic,” Plummer posted on Facebook. “It is time the state steps up and enacts liability protections to make sure it is not open season on these hardworking people who have stepped up for their neighbors.”

Plummer’s pushback comes after Pritzker moved to warn schools they could soon face lawsuits at a cost to taxpayers if they fall short of following CDC guidance.  

 “The lack of empathy and sincerity from these Democrat politicians is breathtaking,” he said. “Rules are constantly changing, standards keep changing, directives from state and federal levels keep changing ... and we are going to set up our schools, businesses, and public servants to be sued for doing their best in a confusing and fluid environment?"

Up until now, school districts across the state have held the responsibility of deciding whether to require masks or to make them optional in their classrooms, with the determination being based on previous guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that up until recently said vaccinated people can go without wearing a mask.

Plummer raising his voice on the issue comes as nothing new.

“I filed legislation over a year ago, similar to common sense actions we have seen in other states and at the federal level, to protect these people who bravely served their communities during this crisis,” he said. “Gov. Pritzker and Democrat legislators refuse to hear the legislation, deferring to their political base (some of their biggest donors) and leaving the door open for trial lawyers to come after our school districts, our small businesses, our hospitals, our first responders, and others for their actions during the pandemic. Not everyone can be the Governor and General Assembly, hiding and not showing up to work during this crisis. This is politics at its worst."