ILLINOIS — Gov. J.B Pritzker challenged Illinois lawmakers to “step up and lead” instead of “playing to the crowd that ignores science and carries symbols of hate” amid calls for the state to reopen its economy sooner than his plan allows. Pritzker’s Restore Illinois plan calls for the state to reopen by region in five phases. No region can move to the next phase of reopening until May 30 at the earliest, under Pritzker’s plan.
The strong words came as Illinois had its deadliest day yet, with another 192 Illinois residents dying of the illness.
All four regions of Illinois are in Phase 2, meaning some nonessential business can reopen for online orders or curbside pickup. In Phase 3, select industries and personal care businesses, like health clubs, barbershops and salons, can reopen with social distancing and other safety measures. Retail businesses can also open with limited capacity in Phase 3.
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During his daily coronavirus briefing Wednesday, Pritzker said he is sympathetic to lawmakers who are “struggling” with difficult decisions forced on them by the coronavirus pandemic.
“But what I don’t have sympathy for is those so intent on disregarding science and logic, so afraid to tell their constituents what they may not want to hear, that they put more people’s lives at risk,” Pritzker said.
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Pritzker has been sued numerous times over his disaster proclamations and stay-at-home orders, including several lawsuits from Republican state legislators. Rep. Darren Bailey, of Xenia, was granted a temporary restraining order last month that blocked officials from enforcing the stay-at-home order on him.
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Pritzker promised “there will be consequences” for businesses that reopen without approval. Officials can revoke state-issued business licenses, and counties that “reopen in defiance” run the risk of not receiving any reimbursements from the Federal Emergency Management Agency “for damages they caused because they ignored the law,” Pritzker said.
“But there is no consequence the state could impose that is greater than the harm that you will do to your own communities,” Pritzker said. “One hundred and ninety-two Illinoisans lost their lives to this virus in the last 24 hours — 192. How is that not real to you?
“This virus is still among us, this pandemic is not over,” Pritzker said. “And to pretend otherwise in a misguided attempt to reclaim what we’ve lost will only make this last longer.”
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