East Central Reporter

Two members of the Illinois House of Representatives are demanding that Gov. J.B. Pritzker do more to get the cash-strapped state’s economy moving, even as the COVID-19 pandemic lingers.

“When this crisis first emerged, there was a great deal of uncertainty, state Reps. Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville) and Chris Miller (R-Oakland) said in a statement. “We did not know how widespread this disease would be and we did not know what parts of the country would be the most affected. It made sense at the time to shutdown large gatherings and to ask people to stay home.”

Weeks after Pritzker enacted his stay at home order, the downstate lawmakers argue much more is known by the disease, including what are some of the measures that can be taken to limit the spread of it.

"Every day we are learning more about the virus and we are seeing trends in certain parts of the country where the disease seems to be the most prevalent,” the two said. “What is needed is a plan for how to bring our economy back. The vast majority of the cases in Illinois appear to be in the Chicago region. The less-densely populated areas are simply not as affected as the more densely populated regions of our state."

The two added that they would like to see target dates established for when things may at least start to return to normal.  

“We need target dates to help our local businesses,” the statement said. “Understandably, these dates might change but it is very important to our local businesses to know that there is an end in sight. People’s lives are being upended and the longer these shutdowns go on the higher probability there will be no job for many people when this is all over."

In hopes of improving the chances that more small business are able to survive, both Halbrook and Miller are also calling on Pritzker to enact a number of new policies, among them freezing unemployment insurance rates and the minimum wage increase, returning the light trailer license fee back to $18 from $118, adjusting property tax rates, and allowing gun stores to reopen.

Finally, the two are calling on Pritzker to pull the plug on the progressive tax proposal set to appear on the ballot in November as a constitutional amendment aimed at replacing the state’s current flat tax system.

"The last thing our businesses need is a massive tax increase after being shut down through no fault of their own," the two said.