SE Illinois News

State Rep. Adam Niemerg (R-Dieterich) wrote Gov. J.B. Pritzker to demand that mask mandates be lifted in all school districts throughout Illinois.

Illinois Parents’ Rights in Education praised Niemerg and similar-minded lawmakers for taking up the issue with Pritzker’s office.

“Keep up the pressure!” IPRE wrote on its Facebook post of Niemerg’s letter on June 29. “Thank our state reps who are fighting for local autonomy. And call the IDPH office to echo this demand! Give school boards control back!!!”

In his correspondence, Niemerg told Pritzker that while COVID-19 cases are decreasing and Illinois is fully open for business again, his constituents are wondering what will happen when children return to school in the fall.

Asserting that many school districts across the country are lifting their mask mandates and children are considered low risk for the coronavirus, the legislator wrote, “We no longer need a statewide mask mandate at schools.”

South West Illinois News reported that Niemerg has repeatedly spoken out against the mask mandates, having filed two pieces of legislation to lift the mandate at schools and the House floor.

“I think we’re at a point in time where we can start lifting these ordinances in a wholesale fashion and people have to take precaution  based on their individual risks and decide whether or not they’re going  to avoid crowds or wear masks based on the circumstance,” SE Illinois News reported Niemerg as saying in a House floor speech.

The publication further reported that Niemerg broached the subject of reopening nonessential industries with Dr. Ngozi Ezike, head of the Illinois Department of Public Health.

The lawmaker grilled Ezike about vaccinated individuals and large public events such as Cubs games.

"If you're able to show that you're vaccinated to go to a  particular event, is that going to be [...] just a verbal thing?" Niemerg asked the public health director, SE Illinois News reported. "Or would I have to show some paperwork?"

Ezike didn’t provide Niemerg specific answers but said that many different solutions have been discussed.