For more than two years, the Governor has run Illinois by invoking emergency powers, sidelining lawmakers by issuing Executive Orders to control nearly every aspect of the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Governor has given no indication when he will stop declaring successive disaster declarations for COVID-19, with his most recent being issued on July 22 and another likely coming later this month. Now with his monkeypox declaration, the Governor has continued to expand his executive authority over the people of Illinois.
State Sen. Jil Tracy (R-Quincy) says the Illinois State Constitution calls for a balance of power between the legislative, executive, and judicial branches when making decisions that affect Illinoisans. In response, Tracy is sponsoring /cosponsoring Senate Bill 103 to require the Governor to request legislative approval to reissue a disaster declaration after 30 days.
But the Governor’s legislative allies have refused to give Senate Bill 103 a public hearing. Tracy says Majority Party leaders must take a stand, or the Governor will continue to issue disaster proclamations and shut duly elected lawmakers out of the decision-making process.