Dupage Policy Journal

Republican Congressional candidate Jeanne Ives has grown tired of what she sees as state leaders’ double standard in their handling of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.

“Illinois leaders asked us to miss religious observances, miss the last days of a loved one’s life, miss that loved one’s funeral, all while our businesses collapsed in front of our eyes,” Ives said not long after Gov. J.B. Pritzker joined Illinois Democrat U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth in taking part in a Juneteenth holiday march alongside massive crowds.

“We sacrificed and complied with the extreme authoritarian orders,” she added. “But when the riots broke out and protesters filled the streets, those same leaders decided COVID-19 wasn’t so dangerous after all and joined them. Out of touch, smug politicians like Sean Casten think that we don’t notice the double standard.”

Now challenging Casten (D-Downers Grove) in the 16th Congressional District, Ives also recently blasted Pritzker as a “hypocrite” after reports surfaced he had crews working on property he owned in Indiana after warning Illinois residents about the dangers of such actions.

“Illinois, you elected a man who has zero integrity and has never heard the words ‘lead by example,’” she posted on Facebook, adding that she can’t see how anyone still takes much of what he says seriously.

Meanwhile, the governor recently announced the state is on course to move into Phase 4 of his five-phase Restore Illinois plan, as all the regions seem to fulfilling the metrics he laid out for them.

Ives, a Wheaton resident, said it’s a moment that’s long overdue, previously describing his plan to the DuPage Policy Journal as “unworkable” while lamenting the “private sector stands to be most hurt.”

Phase four guidelines allow for gatherings of up to 50 people and for restaurants and bars to reopen with limited seating. Health clubs and movie theaters can also reopen under similar thresholds.