Kendall County Times

Former Republican Congressional candidate James Marter argues thinks should have never gotten to this point for the state’s small business industry.

“Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s prolonged stay-at-home order has been declared unconstitutional by the courts in Clay County and as such these now struggling businesses shouldn’t still be bound by it,” Marter told the Kendall County Times. “If people are concerned about their health, they should social distance, or if they think a mask will protect them they should wear one, but the governor now has no authority to be placing restrictions on them that would keep them shut down.”

With the state having finally moved to Phase 4 of the governor’s five-part Restore Illinois, Marter said he is hoping it’s not a case of too little, too late when it comes to small businesses being able to rebound from the damage caused by months of being out of operation.

“I fear it’s going to be a decade or more for us to recover from this mess,” he said. “So many small businesses are now closing and people are leaving the state because of all the bad policy. Who is going to want to come here and set up a business when you know the business will not be protected because of bad policy or some of the looting and riot that’s gone on where no one has been held accountable?”

Under Phase 4 guidelines, more businesses can open with fewer restrictions. Gatherings of up to 50 people and restricted indoor dining at restaurants are also permitted. In addition, movie theaters, performing arts center, zoos and museums can reopen on a limited basis.

“You’ve got to let people go about their lives and let individuals and businesses decide how they want to handle things,” Marter added. “I think our economy should be fully operating by now. I’m not saying that everything should be as it was before the pandemic, just that private businesses don’t need the government mandating what they need to be doing with their business at this point.”