By: Ted Dabrowski and John Klingner
The covid pandemic began with health officials urging lockdowns for “15 days to slow the spread.” Gov. Pritzker issued his first disaster proclamation on March 12, 2020.
Three years – or 1,114 days – later and Pritzker just issued his 41st declaration on March 31, 2023.
This is supposed to be the governor’s last full extension of his powers. Pritzker announced at the end of January that his emergency powers will end the same day Pres. Biden is set to end the federal government’s own emergency on May 11. With that proclamation, Pritzker effectively added disaster declarations 39, 40 and 41 in one shot.
Announcing three declarations at once was the culmination of Pritzker’s years of wearing down democratic norms, the roteness of which Wirepoints covered on our Instagram.
Illinois is now just one of seven states still operating under emergency orders.
Texas stands out as the anomaly, but as we wrote previously, Gov. Abbott’s orders are in place to ensure localities don’t force covid mitigations on Texans – pretty much the opposite purpose of Gov. Pritzker’s powers to impose one-size-fits all mask, vaccine and other restrictions on Illinoisans.
As covid continues to wind down, Illinoisans should be reminded of just how draconian Gov. Pritzker’s policies were. Every one of Illinois’ neighbors ended their emergencies at least a year ago – and some over two years ago.
What’s most frustrating about Gov. Pritzker’s continued use of declarations and the powers that come with them is how ineffective they were in actually mitigating covid. An April 2022 study published in NBER found that despite Illinois’ draconian mitigations, the state ranked right at the average for deaths nationally – 24th.
The costs – from deaths of despair, closed businesses, lost jobs and learning loss – were heavy. Illinois ranked 46th to 43rd in measures tied to economic performance. The state also scored a low 43rd on keeping schools open during the pandemic.
Overall, Illinois earned a combined ranking of 46th and an ‘F’ grade. Only California, New Mexico, New York, the District of Columbia and New Jersey scored worse.
Read more from Wirepoints:
- Gov. Pritzker just proclaimed Illinois Disaster Declarations numbers 39, 40 and 41 through May 11, when he said his Emergency Orders will finally end
- In Hopes Of Doing Better Next Time, Here’s A List of Illinois’ COVID Policy Mistakes
- New study ranks states’ COVID policy results. Illinois gets an ‘F.’
Audio and summary 
If this bill passes, say goodbye to local control over all Illinois parks and expect to see open drug and alcohol use, needles, no sanitation and fire hazards, but no ordinary park users.
Joe just declared it’s officially over, come on JB.
A socialist in the State house and a socialist in Chicago. Derp!
Tyrants will always cling to power.
We are held hostage to a one party state,,, Well, party is the wrong word…
Thank you for reporting on Pritzker’s continued issuances of covid emergency orders. Pritzker and his supporters want it to be considered normal and not newsworthy that Illinois has been under a three-year state of government decreed covid emergency. By continuing to report on it, you highlight the fact that it’s not normal and shouldn’t be considered normal. The covid emergency orders were originally primarily about enabling tyrannical power. Now, they are primarily about facilitating financial grift. The whole concept of a single person in an executive position being able to unilaterally decree a state of emergency for an indefinite period… Read more »
There is an emergency in Illinois alright, but it sure is not COVID!
This is what it looks like to have no recourse in the justice system or at the ballot box.
The latter made sure of the former.
Jay needs to be confined to a Tyvek suit with Scott Air Pack forever.
Why do people vote for “It’s good to be King Pritzker?” They don’t want anyone messing with their pensions. Why blame anyone else when greed, stupidity and trusting Pritzker will kill their pensions? He’s a multimillionaire, he will survive no matter what, they won’t. Illinois residents can’t afford to fund pensions. Many will move, leave their jobs and downsize to avoid paying it. Employees keep striking for higher wages and pensions and people today aren’t/don’t want to work, no taxes, means no funding. You can’t pay for your groceries with your greed. Time to wake up.
A good chunk of the state is on the progressive journey, where ever it takes them, and they support whatever current thing the federal government, multinational corporations and academia tells them to support. That’s how we get normie Democrats being OK with mobile abortion clinics, pron in school libraries, and child genital mutilation. Lord knows what is next, there hasn’t been a ‘progressive’ issue normie democrats have rejected yet. Michael Bloomberg once famously said that civil rights wasn’t about a dude being able to wear a dress, and making it a big issue was a loser. How spectacularly wrong he… Read more »
‘Why do people vote for “It’s good to be King Pritzker?”’
Because it’s a cult.
And the cult is in charge of teaching these kids in school to vote for Pritzker. They are being taught that he is the Savior of Illinois by the high wage, pension collecting, bought and paid for teachers of Illinois.
In Illinois , the whole thing is a giant game of musical chairs. Do not get caught standing up when the music stops!
Desantis thinks it is over. Who is right?
He is.
Arbuckle needs to slow the spread for himself. He’s lost his glowing grin and acquired a sweaty pale rictus appearance. He doesn’t look good at all.
It must be time to send him a box of cigars and big greasy pork chop sandwich , daily!
If that doesn’t sum up all thats wrong with Illinois I don’t know what does.
Off Topic:
Callas loses this election and we’re gonna see a tsunami of outbound migration from this city. Hello Florida, Texas and Arizona.
>>>how ineffective they were in actually mitigating covid<<
But, that wasn’t the intention…
Untold billions of $ were made by big pharma, manufacturers of PPE & healthcare officials & providers…
Who then dutifully “donated” to their political benefactors that enacted the mandates…
But this could not have happened without the MSM instilling fear in the masses…
Follow the money! How many medical supply companies could he own?
I have always thought that Pritzker, with his bodily shape, was always the target of grade school jokes regarding his weight. Now today with his inherited money he can buy his way, originally with the help of Madigan, into Governmental power. Today with that power he feels that he can now “get back” at those old classroom bullies once and for all. The man is on a power trip caused by years ago humiliation and he proved it by sending his family to Florida to escape his tyrannical impositions.
Laugh, roll your eyes, deny the truth all you want. This image right here is why Illinois is leading the way to the NWO. Question, why isn’t the slogan “build better”? Instead it is “build back better”. Build BACK better. That means after everything is destroyed. Also b b b is 666. Come on folks it’s right in your face. Gigantoid pension debt the size of 44 other states’ total debt? That means it’s working. I will never stop saying it.
Destroy – put an end to the existence of (something)
PPF, wake up of your pension won’t exist. Mark, wake up or #1 won’t exist. Debtsor, wake up or your your last minute work around. Students, wake up or the school won’t exist. Parents wake up, Landowners wake up, entrepreneurs wake up, etc etc. . . Yes everyone better wake up.
B for belly. B for brontosaurus. B for buffoon.
Care to elaborate?
So many times the General Assembly had an opportunity to shut down this dictatorship. But because they are sheep, every one of them, they did nothing. They deserve as much blame as the governor for the terrible impact on so many lives and businesses.
They deserve more blame…
Yes. So do the people.