South Cook News

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker (D) recently issued his 40th COVID-related disaster proclamation and extended his emergency powers, according to an Illinois Policy article written by assistant editor Dylan Sharkey on Wednesday.

Pritzker has held emergency powers for nearly three-fourths of his time as governor across two terms. He's previously stated that his declarations will end on May 11 to coincide with U.S. President Joe Biden's official end of the COVID-19 federal emergency.

"None of Illinois’ neighbor states are ruled through emergency powers," Sharkey wrote. "Illinois is one of just six states nationwide still calling the COVID-19 pandemic an emergency, with five of the six led by Democratic governors."

California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) ended his state's COVID-19 state of emergency on February 28. While Georgia, headed by Republican Governor Brian Kemp, is currently under a state of emergency, it's for pandemic-related supply chain disruptions, not the virus itself.

According to Pritzker's Restore Illinois plan, Illinois is currently in Phase 5 of COVID-19 recovery.

“All sectors of the economy reopen with new health and hygiene practices permanently in place," the plan reads. "Large gatherings of all sizes can resume. Public health experts focus on lessons learned and building out the public health infrastructure needed to meet and overcome future challenges.”

"Pritzker could keep extending his emergency powers if he sees fit," Sharkey wrote. "The Illinois General Assembly – a coequal branch of state government – has taken no action to stop him from issuing executive disaster orders every 30 days as the previous ones expire."

"When the newest proclamation ends April 2, Pritzker will have held emergency powers for 1,116 of his 1,539 days in office," Sharkey continued. "Anything lasting three years is no longer an emergency, but rather a regular state of affairs over which the Illinois General Assembly should debate and legislate as needed."