South Central Reporter

For the good of the battered economy and stressed-out families everywhere, state Rep. Blaine Wilhour (R-Beecher) is strongly urging Gov. J.B. Pritzker to allow child care facilities to return to normal operations now that outbreaks of the coronavirus have subsided across the state.  

“The child care industry just wants to get back to work,” Wilhour said. “We need them back to work. They know how to best care for our children. Let them do their jobs; let the parents make the choice. No more ridiculous mandates.”

By any measure, the industry has been the hardest hit as the deadly virus has swept the country over the last several weeks. According to the Los Angeles Times, at least one-third of child care workers across the country have been either laid off or furloughed since the virus hit. Because many owners operate on such small margins to begin with, many of them won’t be able to return after being forced to bolt their doors by government mandate.

Even now, as businesses are slowly being allowed to restart, child care operators remain largely sidelined, posing almost as great of a dilemma for many frustrated parents as business owners.

After the industry received as much as $3.5 billion in the most recent coronavirus relief package, lawmakers are reported to be considering setting aside as much as $100 million for the industry in the next economic stimulus package.

The relief can’t come soon as enough, as a recent National Association for the Education of Young Children survey concluded that more than 100,000 providers have already closed. Those that are open are limited to 50% capacity or less as they try to comply with social distancing and other safety guidelines. In the survey, 63% of providers said they’d be unable to survive a closure of one month or less.

Wilhour fears some of the damage may have even more lasting effects.

“The societal cost of the lockdowns far outpaces the threat of the virus,” he posted on Facebook. “Enough is enough. In places where the lockdowns linger, leaders are depriving their constituents of basic humanity.”