South Central Reporter

State Rep. Avery Bourne (R-Litchfield) recently criticized Gov. J.B Pritzker after the issuance of a temporary restraining order in a lawsuit challenging school mask mandates in the state.

In a social media post, Bourne accused Pritzker of lying, citing the governor's comments from a Feb. 4 news conference that he believes "we should remove masks as soon as we possibly can."

"We can remove the statewide mandates now and leave it up to the local government, like we should have done from the beginning," Bourne said.

Bourne's remarks mirror those of gubernatorial candidate Richard Irvin, with whom Bourne announced in late January her decision to run for lieutenant governor, according to a Metro East Sun report.

"It’s long past time for Gov. Pritzker to stop ruling this state under the guise of emergency executive authority," Irvin stated on a Facebook post, "We need to end these mandates and restore the rights of parents and local communities."

A Sangamon County judge on Friday filed the temporary restraining order against Pritzker, the Illinois Department of Public Health, and several school districts. The order prohibits mask requirements for students in several school districts throughout the state, as well as vaccination and testing requirements for teachers, according to a Central Illinois Proud report.

Judge Raylene Grischow stated in the 29-page order that school districts cannot be forced to require students and teachers to wear masks unless a local health department issues a quarantine order, NBC5 reported.

In response, Pritzker has solicited the assistance of the Illinois Attorney General's Office, claiming that repealing the regulations would result in an increase in COVID-19 cases.

"The grave consequence of this misguided decision is that schools in these districts no longer have sufficient tools to keep students and staff safe while COVID-19 continues to threaten our communities and this may force schools to go remote," Pritzker said. "This shows yet again that the mask mandate and school exclusion protocols are essential tools to keep schools open and everyone safe."

The attorney general is currently requesting an expedited appeal from the 4th District Appellate Court of Illinois.