Lake County Gazette

Chris Kasperski (R-Grayslake) argues Gov. JB Pritzker’s decision to keep his stay-at-home order in place through May will only mean more heartache for already hard-hit residents.

“His arbitrary decisions are wreaking further economic havoc as this virus begins to subside,” Kasperski told the Lake County Gazette. “Illinois has the chance to lead the nation through this pandemic with the infrastructure and centrality of our location. Sadly, our state is unable to get out of the way of itself and allow its citizens to take greater responsibility in maintaining their social distancing while sustaining the economy.”

Kasperski, now challenging long-time incumbent state Sen. Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake) in the 31st District, frets small business owners have suffered even more than most from all the governor’s imposed restrictions.

“I think that the governor's narrow definition of ‘essential businesses’ is at the heart of a lot of people's concerns,” he said. “What is non-essential in his eyes is very much essential in theirs. For another month, JB is putting people out of work and behind on their bills again. Considering that this state already punishes its residents with one of the nation's highest overall tax burdens, it’s a concern that the state has also boggled the 'rainy day fund.'”

At the end of the day, Kasperski said he sees only one way to get the state back on the right track.

“The only remedy for this economic catastrophe is to remove the source of the affliction and lift the stay-at-home order,” he told the Lake County Gazette. “Anything less is to sustain the pain and ignores the pleas from everywhere else throughout the state outside of the immediate Chicagoland area. The governor cannot wait until every trace of this virus is undetectable to allow people back to work. He needs to take all of Illinois into consideration and remember that lives and livelihoods go hand in hand.”