North Cook News

State Rep. Tom Morrison (R-Palatine) is imploring Gov. J.B. Pritzker to look at the big picture in the fight to help restore Illinois in the aftermath of COVID-19.  

“The governor's decisions have probably slowed COVID-19 infection rates and hospitalizations significantly,” Morrison told the North Cook News regarding the stay-at-home order the governor has extended through the end of May. “Continuing the stay-at-home orders month after month, however, will come at a cost that's harder to quantify." 

As frustrations and tensions have grown, hundreds of protesters recently gathered for demonstrations outside state government buildings in Springfield and downtown Chicago where they called on the governor to put an end to the statewide stay-at-home order that has forced most small businesses to shutter over the last several weeks as a way of hopefully slowing the spread of the virus.

“People are demonstrating because most industries and occupations have been hard hit by the stay-in-place order,” Morrison said. "While doing our best to minimize the risk of infection to vulnerable people, we also need to look at other aspects of public health, such as whether we're creating poverty by massive, long-term job losses, and what that will do to mental health and non-COVID-19 health outcomes."

Morrison argues Illinois residents have done all they can do to honor the governor’s mandates, but now need real answers about what comes next.  

"Lives and livelihoods are hurt greatly, perhaps permanently, no matter how much fiscal aid the government promises to deliver," he said. "There are growing issues concerning the depth, breadth and length of executive power and loss of civil liberties. The governor should work with the Legislature immediately to make a transparent, responsible plan to move the state forward.”