East Central Reporter

State Rep. Chris Miller (R-Oakland) fumes that Gov. J.B. Pritzker rates in a class all by himself.

“This governor is personally responsible for destroying businesses that have been around for decades, all for political drama,” Miller told the East Central Reporter. “We’ve asked for the science and the data he’s supposed to using for implementing these restrictions, but it’s been nothing.”

Miller fears the governor’s reenacting COVID-19 restrictions that include banning indoor bar and restaurant service as infection rates have ticked up only paves the way for more suffering.

“They don’t have anything to justify any of this and, in fact, it’s all part of a plan to get him closer to the only thing that matters to him,” Miller added. “Gov. Pritzker is willing to sacrifice all these lives and all these businesses if it means getting him the federal bailout he so desperately is pushing for.”

With so many small business owners still reeling from the governor’s initial shutdown order, Miller said he almost considers it a dereliction of duty that more lawmakers haven’t taken a stance against the governor over his iron fisted way of doing things.

Miller said he finds solace in more Democrat lawmakers now stepping up to join Republicans in demanding that the governor hold public hearings to explain his actions.

“I would think their change of heart is based on their constituents and local business owners having finally and enough and now demanding that they speak up,” he said. “Up until this point, I haven’t seen any movement from Team Pritzker that any of it matters to them, but you have to hope and believe that it will at some point and time.”