SE Illinois News

Veteran state Rep. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) is daring Gov. J.B. Pritzker to make good on his threat to re-enact tougher reopening restrictions across the state in response to an uptick COVID-19 infection rates.

“He has no business doing any more damage than he already has and I’m just waiting on him to try act because he would be in contempt,” Bailey told the SE Illinois News. “He has no authority to be pulling anything back. He knows that and I really believe these are just scare tactics.”

Pointing to infection rates that are reported to be up in at least 11 counties, Pritzker recently warned tougher restrictions could again soon be coming. Bailey filed suit challenging the legality of the governor's first shutdown order and a Clay County judge ruled in his favor on two of four arguments, nullifying the governor’s executive order.  

“He’s been proven wrong in a court of law and his ego won’t let him let it go,” Bailey added. “He wants to be right and be in power when it comes to everything. I think he’s more interested in pushing his agenda than anything else. Even if he tries to pull things back and restrict businesses again, we’re telling people to just ignore him and continue to follow all health safety precautions in operating their businesses as they see fit.”

Bailey said it troubles him that the governor would be so distracted at a time when the state is faced with such a crisis situation.

“People’s lives are being ruined and all he’s doing is hoping and praying that a Democrat president is elected to forgive all the billions in debt he’s borrowed to make things even worse,” Bailey said. “I don’t know how we’re going to get out of this mess and he’s only adding to it. His two years of being governor have been an unmitigated disaster for Illinois.”