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As
the two-year anniversary approaches of Governor JB Pritzker’s
first disaster declaration in response to COVID-19, State
Senator Sally Turner (R-Beason) is renewing her call to rein in
the Governor’s ability to impose sweeping emergency powers and
require legislative input and oversight. Since the Governor’s
first declaration on March 9, 2020, he has re-issued his
disaster declaration approximately every 30 days as a “work
around” to the 30-day limit on declared disasters imposed by the
Emergency Management Agency Act.
“We are now two years into this pandemic and throughout that
entire time the Governor of this state has made every COVID-19
decision alone,” said Sen. Sally Turner. “As elected
representatives of thousands of Illinois residents, we should
have a voice in the decisions that impact our constituents.”
As Illinoisans enter the third year living under the Governor’s
“emergency,” Sen. Sally Turner has joined with her fellow Senate
Republicans to advocate for the imposing limits on the use of
emergency powers, and have once again put forth legislation,
Senate Bill 3888, that would require the Governor to get
approval from the General Assembly in order to issue any
subsequent renewal of emergency powers after the initial 30-day
state of emergency declaration.
“Senate Bill 3888 is a common-sense approach to reining-in the
Governors’ unilateral ability to exercise emergency powers that
should have bipartisan support,” continued Sen. Sally Turner.
“It is time for every elected official within our state to work
together in the best interest of the people of Illinois.”
Recently, the Illinois court system and the bipartisan Joint
Committee on Administrative Rules both rebuffed the governor's
abuse of his emergency powers. Senate Bill 3888 has also
garnered cosponsors from both sides of the political aisle.
[Marcus J. Durrett
Illinois Senate Republican Staff
Communications and Public Affairs]
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