Kendall County Times

Veteran state Sen. Jim Oberweis (R-Sugar Grove) only sees more flashing red-lights emanating from Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s plan to jumpstart the state’s economy in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic..

“I have some serious concerns about the plan the governor is proposing,” Oberweis told the Kendall County Times. “I understand that we must do everything to make sure we do not have another severe outbreak of the virus, but we also have to realize that the longer we delay reopening our economy the higher the number of suicides and physical abuse. There is a significant possibility that we lose as many lives by keeping people locked up as we do by opening things up. The goal is to get economy open.”

Pritzker's five-phased “Restore Illinois” plan calls for a region-by-region reopening of the economy, taking into account that some parts of the start may be ready to move on to the next phase at a faster pace than others. But even as the governor highlights that the state is already in Phase 2 of the plan, which allows nonessential stores to open on a limited basis, he adds he doesn’t envision the state reaching Phase 5, or fully reopening for business, until a vaccine or effective treatment for the virus becomes available.

Oberweis, now challenging U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Naperville) in the 14th Congressional District, laments that may prove to be more than most small business operators can stand.  

“The only thing we know for sure is that the longer we delay, the more destruction there is to our economy,” he said. “The governor’s plan creates unnecessary road blocks to reopening our state. We can be safe while also allowing our businesses to recover from the government mandated shutdowns.”