McHenry Times

State Rep. Dan Ugaste (R-Geneva) laments Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s one-man act has come at a heavy cost to the entire state.

“Given what we’ve seen, I don’t think anyone is in favor of having the governor work alone and without input from other lawmakers with different viewpoints,” Ugaste told the McHenry Times. “There’s no tracing data that supports the way he has shut down bars and restaurants. The truth is shutting down these establishments pushes people back into holding things in the kinds of home settings where we know the chances of people wearing masks and following precautions are far less likely.”

Given the high stakes, Ugaste said he isn’t surprised to see more people stepping up in defiance of the governor, including McHenry County State’s Attorney Patrick Kenneally, who has vowed not to enforce Pritzker’s latest ban against indoor dining across the region.  

“I think we need to be working together and the governor should not be deciding who gets to survive and who doesn’t,” Ugaste added. “There’s no rationale for small business owners not being able to open while big box operations, doing the same things and offering the same services, are still operating at full capacity. This isn’t just about dollars and sense. We’re talking about people’s lives here.”

Ugaste said the governor now threatening to strip businesses that violate his order of state licenses is just more of the same flawed bullying.

“The answer to this isn’t figuring out how governor can try to bail everyone out,” he said. "Our focus needs to be on keeping businesses open and operating as safely as possible. It’s in everyone best interest to keep things operating as safely as possible.”