East Central Reporter

Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Champaign) on Feb. 26 took to Facebook to needle Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) for lifting his mask mandate well after courts had already instructed him to do so.

"Let me get this straight JB...94% of locally elected school districts had already walked away from you," Rose said in the Facebook post. "You lost in the IL Supreme Court, and now you're going to lift the mask mandate? What's left to lift, Gov, You were thrown out of the Supreme Court? Start listening to local schools & parents! Ridiculous headline - there is nothing to 'lift,' WCIA, he was tossed by the Supreme Court and 94% of schools had already bailed on him anyway!"

The post comes after Pritzker on Feb. 25 announced that mask mandates were lifted as of Feb. 28, according to a report from WCIA. In his statement, Pritzker said, “I’m gratified that the Supreme Court vacated the lower court’s restraining order, meaning that if a school mask mandate needs to go into effect in the future, we continue to have that authority. I’m also extremely pleased to say that because the CDC has recommended that masks are needed only in areas of high transmission, the State of Illinois will move forward to remove our school mask mandate, effective Monday. We will recommend that school districts follow CDC guidance and will update our existing guidance in the coming days," according to WCIA.

In early February, Rose accused the governor of retaliating against individuals who defy him, using the mask mandates and his refusal to lift them, according to Chambana Sun.

"He is saying that kids in school are different than adults at the workplace," Rose said, according to the Chambana Sun. "How dare a parent make a decision in their own child’s best interest - not J.B. Pritzker’s political interest. But, boy, is he ever going to show them how smart he is – moving to punish all those who defy him. Every day more and more school districts, parents, and children are walking away from him in outright revolt."

Last month, Sangamon County Judge Raylene Grischow issued a temporary restraining order against Pritzker and school districts that would require students to wear masks, and staff to be tested weekly or vaccinated against COVID-19, according to ABC 7 Chicago.

“It is now abundantly clear that JB Pritzker’s ‘scientists’ are actually the Governors of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and California," Rose said, per Chambana Sun. "What a joke."