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The
debate is over which time is best or whether to keep it status
quo.
During a committee hearing on the issue last week, state Rep.
Tim Butler, R-Springfield, presented a measure alongside state
Rep. Jonathan Carrol, D-Northbrook, to make Standard Time
year-round.
“Which would eliminate the time changes, and keep us on winter
time,” Butler said. “I’m somebody, as I get older, I actually
get up earlier. I enjoy light in the morning.”
State Rep. Bob Morgan, D-Deerfield, said his measure to have
Daylight Saving Time all year is the way to go.
“Given what we just went through with COVID, we really need to
be very specific and very deliberate with our pandemic response
and one of the ways to do that is to help our small businesses,
giving them some extra time at the end of the day when it's
still sunny out,” Morgan said.
But, they have to work on convincing the likes of state Rep.
Mike Murphy, R-Springfield, who said picking either would put
the state out of sync with national broadcast schedules and
other activities.
Jay Pea, a researcher with the group Save Standard Time, wants
to stick with just Standard Time. Pea opposed making Daylight
Saving Time year-round, saying there are negative impacts.
“It reduces sleep, reduces immunity, reduces alertness, school
grades, productivity,” Pea said. “It increases illness and
accidents.”
Time change researcher David Prerau likes the status quo.
“I personally disagree with both of those proposals and I think
that the current system is a very good compromise, an excellent
compromise,” Prerau said.
While he said Daylight Saving Time is great in the spring,
summer and fall to cut down on energy, traffic accidents and
health problems, he said having that time in the winter makes
for very late sunrises.
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