Kane County Reporter

Illinois state Rep. Allen Skillicorn ((R-East Dundee) is urging Gov. J.B. Pritzker to give small business owners a chance to help save themselves in overcoming the coronavirus pandemic.

“People understand that there will be a process and there will have to be some safety protocols to stop further spread of this disease but whatever these guidelines end up being we need a plan,” Skillicorn told the Lake County Gazette. “The reality is that millions of people have filed for unemployment and their lives are being wrecked right now.”

Skillicorn’s plea came just hours after a record-setting 201,000 people filed for unemployment benefits in Illinois, according to the Chicago Tribune, bringing the overall total since the governor put his stay-at-home order in place to more than 493,000.

At the same time, some of the most recent models have downsized the levels of devastation of the virus, prompting a growing number of Republican lawmakers to call on the governor to adapt to the changing situation.

“Every time someone talks about economic issues, there is a knee jerk reaction to dismiss those concerns as putting profit over people,” Skillicorn added. The veteran lawmaker said there’s no question business owners deserve better given the way they have responded to the sudden crisis.  

“Most all of us are doing what we are being asked to do even if it means we lose a lot or in some cases all of our income,” he said.  

In calling for conversations about re-opening the economy to kick into high gear, Skillicorn went as far as invoking the words of former President Barack Obama.  

“President Obama famously talked about being able to walk and chew gum at the same time,” he said. “We can fight the spread of this virus and develop a plan to bring our economy back. Not only can we do it, but we need to do it. We can walk and chew gum at the same time.”