Prairie State Wire

Republican state House candidate Peter Breen fumes Gov. J.B. Pritzker is making a mockery of science in the way he has sidelined high school student athletes over COVID-19 concerns.

“The science is absolutely clear in establishing young people can participate in school and sports safely with appropriate precautions,” Breen told the Prairie State Wire. “The governor’s actions may have made sense a while ago but in light of current circumstances there is no reason for total restrictions to continue.”

Pritzker recently doubled down on his decision to keep most student-athletes off the field over COVID-19 concerns, sparking protests from parents, students and coaches all across the state.

The Illinois High School Association fired off a letter to Pritzker requesting that they be allowed “to resume control over determining the resumption of sports and activities.” Currently, the two sides are allowing teams across the state to practice this month under specific COVID-19 guidelines

“It’s hard to tell why the governor is so adamant in maintaining a total shutdown and why he has not allowed school districts to more safely open up for classes and sports when you see the successes of many of our neighboring states and in other countries in both of those endeavors,” added Breen, who is running against incumbent state Rep. Terra Costa-Howard (D-Glen Ellyn) in the 48th District. “I can’t speak for all of the rest of Illinois, but here in the suburbs everything points to us being safely able to resume both school and sports.”

Breen has previously blasted the General Assembly for allowing the governor to make such critical decisions in a vacuum as a case of “absolute malpractice.”

“The legislature needs to be in Springfield working to clarify these issues and assure that the people of this state are safe,” he said.