South Central Reporter

Illinois state Rep. Blaine Wilhour (R-Beecher City) argues Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s five-phased plan for reopening the state’s economy lacks the sense of urgency the situation calls for.

“Having our economy shut down is absolutely destroying people and we need to be doing everything we can to allow people to make the best living they can for themselves,” Wilhour told the South Central Reporter. “The governor has talked about not reopening things until we get a vaccine for COVID-19. What if it’s like HIV, and we don’t have one for the next 30 years or so?”

As it is, Pritzker’s “Restore Illinois” plan aims to reopen the state on a region-by-region basis that takes into account some areas of the state may be ready for a jumpstart earlier than others. Pritzker also said the state is already on Phase 2 of the plan, which allows nonessential stores to open on a limited basis as the spread of the infection ideally begins to wane.

Wilhour said he thinks he’s come to understand why he feels the governor has been so inflexible in his way of dealing with the coronavirus crisis.

“A lot of it boils down to perpetuating a political narrative,” he said. “The governor has thrown all his support behind an approach he thinks makes most sense for Democrats politically. The plan we’ve proposed is one that’s been worked on by local leaders, business people and health officials. What’s holding the governor back is all the pressure he’s getting from bureaucrats. (He's) making decisions that aren’t based on good reasoning but out of fear.”

Wilhour said he suspects that more and more people won’t be willing to comply with the restrictions for much longer.

“People aren’t going to continue to comply if they don’t see the situation on the ground demanding it,” he said. We’ve got hospitals down here that are empty now. We know who’s vulnerable to this virus now. We can address that, and allow other people to start rebuilding their lives. As long as we’re bowing down to a political agenda, the more people are going to be impacted by this crisis.”