Lake County Gazette

Former Republican House candidate Jim Walsh fails to see the logic in Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s order propelling all state lawmakers to the front of the line for the COVID-19 vaccination.

“I find it totally and utterly wrong for any lawmaker to be putting themselves ahead of the welfare of their constituents,” Walsh told the Lake County Gazette. “The people getting the vaccine first should be those the scientists say are most at risk.”

After a period of publicly taking a similar position, Pritzker reversed course, green-lighting a plan that paves the way for all 177 state lawmakers to get the shot right away as part of Phase 1B of the state inoculation plan. Pritzker’s treatment places legislators in the same class as seniors, teachers, police officers, firefighters, paramedics and grocery store workers.

As revolting as he finds the governor’s actions, Walsh said he isn’t surprised by them.

“It’s the way he’s governed since the virus first hit,” he added. “He just imposes his will on everyone, no matter what anyone else has to think or what the consequences might be. I would say he has no regard for the average citizen.”

Walsh said that the governor would be pushing such a plan that pushes lawmakers to the front of the line when so many others are in more desperate need of the vaccine, offers further proof of his elitist attitude.

“Lawmakers aren’t even meeting in Springfield and really haven’t been for a year now,” he said. “They’re not at the same risks levels as elderly people, first responders or those who still have to work with the public every day. But none of that matters, with the governor it’s always different rules for thee than there are for me.”