SE Illinois News

State Rep. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) rages the jury is already in when it comes to Gov. J.B. Pritzker's flawed handling on the lingering COVID-19 pandemic.

“Gov. Pritzker is absolutely a failed governor,” Bailey told the SE Illinois News. “He has become a disgrace to everyone. He only cares about destroying the state economy in order to seek a federal bailout. He’s doing all of this at the expense of Illinois’ businesses, as we’ve asked for data and information related to his decision-making and still have gotten nothing.”

Citing rising infection rates, Pritzker recently moved to reenact COVID restrictions in counties across the state, triggering the ire of many small business owners still struggling with the effects of earlier shutdown orders.

With a Facebook page dedicated to businesses planning to defy his order already created and launched, the governor is now threatening to send the Illinois State Police to the regions where restaurants and bars are deemed to be in violation. Bailey argues already tapped out small business owners are taking the only stance they feel they can.

“This is about survival,” he said. “You hear about so many people are hurting from this and he still extends these new orders while defending all the harm he’s already done. This is wrong in every way.”

And – Bailey argues – not legal.

“The court has already established that,” he added. “He’s violating constitutional rights and if we need to we’re ready to go back before the courts.”

In the end, Bailey argues only verdict will truly matter.

“Gov. Pritzker is destroying this state across the board and really needs to go,” he said. “It’s the only way Illinois is truly going to have a chance of putting itself back on course and getting things right.”