East Central Reporter

A downstate lawmaker is fuming Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s incompatibility for public office has never been more apparent.

“I think the reality of it is our governor is completely out of touch with the people that try to run a small business and survive here in Illinois,” state Rep. Chris Miller (R-Oakland) told the East Central Reporter. “He’s been very callous in his unwillingness to work with people so their businesses can survive.”

As the latest example of that, Miller points to the governor’s latest shutdown orders, including a ban on indoor dining in McHenry County where state’s attorney Patrick Kenneally has blasted the act as an abuse of power and vowed not to enforce it.

“States’ attorneys in these districts live there and understand the pain these small business owners face being hit with these restrictions,” Miller added. “On top of that, I think they know this thing has been 100% politicized."

Miller said the governor now threatening to strip businesses that violate his order of state licenses is just more of the same flawed thinking and bullying.

“I don’t think any actions he’s taken would survive in the courts,” he said. “His whole strategy is based on fear and intimidation. People have also seen the hypocrisy, like him telling everybody else to same home while he’s gallivanting all over the country. There’s just so much inconsistency and hypocrisy with everything he does.”

With the stakes being so high, Miller said people have simply had enough and are doing all they think they can to try to survive.

“We fought a war not to be subjected to the governor’s kind of tyranny,” he said. “People aren’t going to allow an out-of-touch billionaire who’s never had to work for anything tell them how to run their business.”