Kane County Reporter

State Rep. Allen Skillicorn (R-East Dundee) grows philosophical when dissecting Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our nation came into being because our founders wanted to be free,” Skillicorn told the Kane County Reporter. “They wanted to live in a country that was built on the principles of liberty and freedom. Our founders understood that during such trying times, the rights of Americans must be protected.”

Skillicorn isn’t alone in questioning if the governor has upheld those standards since the coronavirus arrived on the scene roughly two months ago.

Hundreds of protesters recently gathered for demonstrations outside state government buildings in Springfield and downtown Chicago where they called on Pritzker to put an end to his statewide stay-at-home order that has forced small businesses deemed nonessential by the government to shutter over the last several weeks as a way of hopefully slowing the spread of the virus.

More recently, the governor extended the order through the end of May, exponentially raising the frustration levels of residents desperately looking to resume their lives and get back to their livelihoods.

“Part of being an American is placing a premium on liberty,” Skillicorn said. “It is our heritage. It is our DNA. When our constitutional rights are being denied, Americans will, as they always have, rise up and oppose those who are trying to take away those rights. Throughout this crisis, people have pleaded with the governor to listen to their concerns. Maybe now he will listen.”

Throughout the crisis, Skillicorn has called on Pritzker to be more transparent and accountable about his actions.   

“I have joined several of my colleagues in the House in asking for some basic information from the governor, such as daily hospitalization numbers and other information,” he said. “We have asked for clear guidelines on what the timetable for reopening the economy would be and what criteria would be used.”