East Central Reporter

State Rep. Chris Miller (R-Oakland) is fighting to make sure the focus stays where he thinks it needs to be in the state’s battle to survive the coronavirus crisis.

“You don’t want this thing to turn into just another battle about partisan politics,” Miller told the East Central Reporter. “Already, every time you turn around Gov. (J.B.) Pritzker is bashing our president, which in the minds of some puts a question mark on his level of sincerity about just about everything. That kind of approach isn’t helpful to anyone. Everyone needs to be pulling together.”

Miller’s worries about government overreach or abuses of power don’t end there.

In Champaign, a city ordinance has been enacted that gives the mayor and city council the power to do everything from limit gun sales to ration utilities and seize private property. The newly approved legislation also gives leaders the power to impose emergency curfews, bar residents from public buildings and shutter businesses over the next 28 days.

More recently, Pritzker moved to enact a “stay at home” order for all residents that is in effect through Tuesday, April 7.

While city attorney Fred Stavins stressed that no added actions are currently being called for and that the policies have actually been part of the city code for more than a decade, Miller is keeping close watch.

“You’re always concerned about government overreach,” Miller added. “As Americans, we’re free people and no one likes being told what to do by the governor or anyone else for that matter. You feel like you don’t need J.B. Pritzker telling you to stay home if you feel sick to the point of posing a danger to others.”