Grundy Reporter

State Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) joined with state Rep. La Shawn Ford (D-Chicago) in calling for the General Assembly to conduct a joint hearing into how the state has handled the COVID-19 pandemic and economic fallout from related restrictions imposed.

In calling on Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) and House Speaker Michael Madigan (D_Chicago) to act, Rezin said that eight months into the pandemic and emergency powers of Gov. J.B. Pritzker, the General Assembly is overdue for taking a more active role, according to a news release published to Rezin's official senatorial website. 

She and Ford also called on Pritzker to willingly take part in sharing power with the General Assembly.

"Legislative hearings will allow the public to hear directly from the Governor's Office, state and local public health officials, small businesses, and other impacted stakeholders about what exactly goes into the decision-making process for our state's response," Rezin said in the release. "In addition to providing the public with much-needed transparency, these hearings will finally give legislators the opportunity to directly ask the administration about the data and assumptions they choose to use. For too long, we have been left in the dark with more questions than answers. This has been particularly true when it comes to the administration's mitigation rules."

In accepting her new role as deputy leader, Rezin said that she is pleased to work with the caucus' leader-elect, Sen. Dan McConchie (R-Hawthorn Woods), according to coverage by The Times. 

"There is no denying that we are at a crossroads as a party and a state. I believe Dan is the person best equipped to guide us down a new and different path," Rezin said, The Times reported. "I am looking forward to working with Dan as his deputy leader to help rebuild our organization and our state."