Kendall County Times

Congressional candidate and veteran state Sen. Jim Oberweis (R-Sugar Grove) fumes about small business owners having to endure too much in the governor's latest shutdowns to control COVID-19.

“Bars and restaurants are doing what the state asked them to do,” Oberweis told the Kendall County Times. “These businesses are just trying to stay afloat and cannot afford another lockdown of the economy.”

Now running against Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Naperville) in the 14th Congressional District, Oberweis argues the governor’s recent decision to reenact shutdown restrictions in at least 24 counties and threatening to add to the list after an uptick in infection rates totally misses the mark.

“We know that the spread is mostly happening at private gatherings, which the state cannot really regulate,” he said. “So, our small businesses and the people they employ are made to suffer. There has to be a better way than forcing businesses to lock down again.”

Oberweis said he isn’t surprised to see desperate small business owners moving to take matters in their own hands, including launching a Facebook page dedicated to businesses to vent about how they plan to defy the governor’s order. In response, Pritzker is now threatening to send the Illinois State Police to the regions where restaurants and bars are deemed to be in violation.

Not long ago, Oberweis took the governor to task over a plan to fine small business owners up to $2,500 for failure to enforce regulations for face coverings and social distancing.

“There is no doubt that wearing masks when indoors in close contact slows the spread of the virus,” he said. “But having said that, it is up to individuals to wear masks. Holding businesses accountable for the actions of individuals is simply not fair.”