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GOP Candidates Oppose New COVID Masking Guidelines

Republicans who hope to unseat Gov. JB Pritzker next year say his new masking and vaccination guidelines are an over-reach, and the decisions should be left to local control.

State Senator Darren Bailey says he's leaving all options on the table in his fight against the mask mandate for Pre-K-through-12th grade schools -- including filing another lawsuit against the governor.

"I am sick and tired of this tyrannical rule that is infringing on the freedoms of everyone in the state of Illinois, and is certainly affecting our freedom across this nation."

Bailey says one size does not fit all in Illinois.

"If you want to wear the mask, if parents want to send their children to school with a mask, they should wear the mask. If a school board wants to mandate masks for a school, then so be it - they can do that. The parents can step up, and push back. But it's up to the school board to represent the majority of the parents."

Meanwhile, former State Senator Paul Schimpf and businessman Gary Rabine are also opposed to the new guidelines and mandates.

Schimpf says they are inconsistent with civil liberties, and infringe on the local control parents and school boards should have.

Rabine says a one-size-fits-all approach doesn't work, and he wants control returned to the local level.

WSIU's award winning reporter bringing you the morning news, local political talk and market forecasts.