East Central Reporter

A downstate legislator is among a group of Republican lawmakers demanding that Gov. J.B. Pritzker take action that includes freezing unemployment rates and the state’s minimum wage in order to help small businesses survive through the coronavirus crisis.

“Small business is the lifeblood of Illinois and when you start destroying what makes it work, it goes a long way toward undermining the entire state,” state Rep. Chris Miller (R-Oakland) told the East Central Reporter. “These proposals are meant to extend some relief to help them get back on their feet and to send the message that there has to be a plan to help bring business back.”

Miller joined GOP colleagues Brad Halbrook (Shelbyville), Blaine Wilhour (Beecher City), Darren Bailey (Xenia), Dan Caulkins (Decatur) Allen Skillicorn (East Dundee) and John Cabello (Machesney Park) in signing off on the letter sent to Pritzker, which caused for average freezes of about 15 months.

In Illinois, the minimum wage is slated to hit $10 an hour this summer before increasing by a dollar every year until it hits $15 an hour in 2025.

“It’s all about finding ways to return life to normal for our families and businesses,” Miller said. “What the government has done has taken away people’s ability to make an income for themselves. Since all of this is government-inflicted, I definitely think there has to be some shared sacrifice.”

To date, Miller said the group hasn’t faced any negative pushback from government, although he adds the group has yet to directly hear back from the governor’s office.

“I know it doesn’t fit their paradigm of just taxing, borrowing and spending more,” he said.

With Illinois recently being deemed a “hot spot” for the spread of the virus, Miller said having a long-term place for moving the state forward is as critical as ever.

“I think you have to have a very clear plan and so far we haven’t heard much talk about that,” he said. “Maybe this will be the kick-start that we need for having that conversation.”