Will County Gazette

Veteran state Rep. Margo McDermed (R-Mokena) is warning Gov. J.B. Pritzker that there is no one cure for all the economic ailments caused by his COVID-19 shutdown.

“A number of Republican representatives have said from the beginning that infections are not the only danger COVID brings,” McDermed told the Will County Gazette. “Mental health issues caused by isolation and job loss can also cause death. Deaths of businesses also need to be weighed in the balance.”

Citing rising infection rates that have moved 11 counties to “warning levels” for the spread of the virus, Pritzker recently pronounced the state is at a “danger point” for another potential shutdown. Cass, Gallatin, Jackson, Jo Daviess, Johnson, Perry, Randolph, Saline, Sangamon, St. Clair and White counties have been identified as potential hotspots.

McDermed said she’s convinced small businesses have especially been unfairly targeted by some of the governor’s actions, including being forced to shutter when many big-box stores were allowed to continue operating uninterrupted.

“Small business creates the most new jobs in our economy,” she said. “Another closure will result in more employers closing, more job loss and more anguish.”

McDermed recently blasted lawmakers in Springfield, including embattled House Speaker Mike Madigan, for what she sees as their total neglect and disregard for the people they’re supposed to represent.

“Mike Madigan and the Democratic Party of Illinois have all the money, so Democrats elected have clearly let the money guide their response rather than welfare of the citizens of Illinois,” she said. “All the Democratic men and almost all of the women are keeping their heads down. No one wants to make the first move.”

The longest-serving lawmaker in state history, Madigan now stands at the center of an ongoing federal corruption probe involving utility giant ComEd.