Dupage Policy Journal

Laura Hois struggles to find any winners in Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s five-phased plan for fully reopening the state economy.

“It is not good for Illinois,” she told the DuPage Policy Journal. “Businesses cannot wait a year or more to reopen, families can't wait a year or more to go back to work, kids can't wait a year or more to go back to school. Waiting until a vaccine or highly effective treatment has been developed is unacceptable to the families who can't make it one more month without relief.”

Pritzker’s much-anticipated Restore Illinois plan sets out to reopen the state on a region-by-region basis that factors in the way some regions may be in position to move to the next phase quicker than others. He added the state is already on Phase Two of the plan, which allows nonessential stores to open on a limited basis as the spread of the infection ideally begins to rescind.

Now running against incumbent state Rep. Anne Stava-Murray (D-Naperville) in the 81st District, Hois hints she doesn’t think the plan is as well thought out as it could be.

“In acting unilaterally – with little or no input from state legislators – the governor has hurt Illinoisans,” she said. “The governor and General Assembly should go back to work in Springfield to create a plan that works for the safety and economic recovery of all of Illinois. The governor has not been transparent with the data he relies on to make decisions.”

Hois said she fears what will come of Illinois if Pritzker gets things precisely how he wants them.

“Forcing businesses to remain closed for over a year will destroy the state’s economy,” she said. “Small businesses and workers are being squeezed and will not be able to last much longer without a realistic timeline and plan to reopen portions of our economy. Government guidelines must strike the right balance between strengthening public health, respecting individual rights, and rebuilding main street businesses and restoring jobs for the workers who have been forced out of work.”