East Central Reporter

Veteran state Rep. Chris Miller (R-Oakland) cracks Gov. J.B. Pritzker appears to be auditioning for a job no one's looking to fill.

“It sounds like he wants to be dictator of Illinois instead of just the governor and that’s a job the state doesn’t have,” Miller told the East Central Reporter. “His problem is there are three branches of government and the legislature is the one that makes the law.”

Pritzker recently announced he wants to enact a rule that would allows businesses to be fined up to $2,500 for failure to enforce regulations for face coverings and social distancing. As Republicans have quickly voiced their opposition to the proposal, the governor has defended his position by arguing the change will aid law enforcement, local boards of health, school districts and the general public in enforcing the use of face coverings and social-gathering restrictions.

Miller argues suffering residents have had enough.

“Especially downstate here,” he said. “I can honestly say the anti-Pritzker signs are popping up so often they’re no longer social distancing.”

In May, Pritzker tried enacting similar legislation but withdrew it before a planned Joint Commission on Administrative Rules hearing amid much criticism.

Miller argues it’s no wonder the tide has turned the way it has against the governor.

“You have to have the respect of the people before you can govern them and everyone down here now sees the governor as just a bad joke,” he said. “No one has any idea what he’s thinking. Given his background, you would think that he would understand business at least a little bit better than what he’s showing.”

Miller argues part of the problem is that governor has no use for small businesses and has seemingly made them a target in much of his COVID-19 legislation.

“I think the reason has to be his arrogance and pompous nature,” Miller added. “He just doesn’t have any use for it.”