Will County Gazette

Congressional candidate Rick Laib wants to see Gov. J.B. Pritzker adjust to the times, the science and the data in the battle to control COVID-19.  

“It's not March anymore,” Laib told the Will County Gazette. “In March, we didn't know nearly what we now know about COVID-19, specifically that there is a survival rate of 99%. To shut down businesses for a disease with a 99% survival rate is far too irresponsible with the livelihoods of the people of Illinois.”

Now running against Rep Bill Foster (D-Illinois) in the 11th District, Laib is among a growing list of GOP lawmakers now speaking out against the governor recently reenacting shutdown restrictions in at least 24 counties after an uptick in coronavirus infection rates.

Laib said he isn’t surprised to now see desperate small business owners moving to take things in their own hands, including including launching a Facebook page dedicated to businesses to vent about how they plan to defy the governor’s order. In response, Pritzker is now threatening to send the Illinois State Police to the regions where restaurants and bars are deemed to be in violation.

“We do not know the governor's heart nor his priorities, but he has not communicated that the full welfare of the people of Illinois is in his interests,” Laib added. “He campaigned on making Illinois the most ‘abortion-friendly’ state and he's done that, so he certainly is not enacting these orders because saving lives is important. I wonder what parameters he is using to make these decisions.”

Laib argues one thing that is clear is all the ways the governor’s actions figure to hurt the state across the board.

“Less revenue, more unemployment, greater exodus, and additional government dependence on behalf of the citizens of Illinois,” he said.