State Representative Joe Sosnowski, R-Rockford, released the following statement today calling on all Illinois schools to comply with the temporary restraining order issued by Sangamon County Circuit Court Judge Raylene Grischow on February 4 declaring Governor Pritzker’s emergency rules for COVID-19 mitigations in schools “null and void,” halting the state’s ineffective and harmful mask mandate in schools:
“In our system of government, the judiciary has the final say, not the Governor and not his allies in the legislature. School districts that have not yet complied with the court’s ruling should do so immediately. Wearing a mask in school should be optional and a decision made by a parent or guardian. Local school officials should abide by the court ruling and not yield to pressure from the Pritzker Administration and activists that want mask mandates in place indefinitely. Masks are not effective in decreasing infection and children have proven to be the safest from serious infection. We are one of only a couple states enforcing a statewide mask mandate and it needs to end. I support Judge Grischow’s ruling and urge all our local school districts to follow her order without further delay.”
Representative Sosnowski serves the 69th District which includes portions of Winnebago and Boone Counties.