Republican state House candidate Jim Walsh thinks Illinois is paying the price for Gov. J.B. Pritzker breaking from the norm in his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I am surprised that we still aren't attempting to do what we have in every other respiratory virus outbreak: quarantine the sick, protect the folks most vulnerable to the serious effects of the disease, and let everyone else go about their business,” Walsh told the Lake County Gazette. “If any restrictions are put in place, these are the restrictions we must try first.”
Instead, Walsh laments the governor is now considering enacting yet another shutdown of some kind as coronavirus infection rates tick upward.
“Pritzker notes that the positivity rate is increasing,” said Walsh, who is running against incumbent state Rep. Sam Yingling (D-Grayslake) in the 62nd District. “This is true. However, the only region with a rate near 8% is Region 4, which is near Saint Louis.”
Walsh argues there are numerous indicators that the state small business can ill afford another shutdown.
“It would be catastrophic,” he said. “Look at the second quarter GDP. It is the largest contraction ever. It is worse than 1929. Another drop like that would destroy any chance Illinois has of climbing out of the hole King (House Speaker Mike) Madigan and his Democrat leadership has dug for us.”
When it comes to all the actions he’s taken, Walsh argues Pritzker should have never been allowed to unilaterally make all the decisions he has to begin with.
“It is past time for Speaker Mike Madigan and Senate President Don Harmon to bring the General Assembly back in session to actually take the reins of Illinois' response to the pandemic,” he added. “We need our elected representatives to be making decisions based not only on recommendations about the effects of the virus on individuals but also the effects of the fear mongering, lockdowns and lack of guidelines that are consistent in practice and over time.”
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