Kane County Reporter

In the mind of Republican state House candidate Laura Curtis, the question of whether Gov. J.B. Pritzker has abused his powers in his handling of the COVID-19 crisis has long been an open-and-shut case.

“I’ve never agreed with how he shut the state down or thought he was authorized to do it the way he did,” Curtis told the Kane County Reporter. “The fact that the court has rendered the ruling that it has just proves what I’ve always known to be true.”

With the state having finally moved into Phase 4 of the governor’s five-part Restore Illinois plan, Krupa worries the floodgates may still be open and the damage may have already been done.

“Sometimes I fear things in Illinois may never be the same,” said Curtis, who is running against incumbent state Rep. Karina Willa (D-West Chicago) in the 49th District. “For most small business owners, it was already extremely difficult to make a profit with all the over-regulations. The forced shutdowns just make it more challenging, especially with them coming at the same the minimum wage increase kicked and the governor is pushing his progressive tax.”

Curtis, a North Aurora resident, said she fears victimized small business owners may have been sacrificed for what Democrats hope will be a bigger payoff.   

“You have to wonder about political motivations maybe behind some of this,” she said. “I mean this is an election year and this is Illinois. The governor claims all his decisions are based on the scientific data he’s presented with, but he goes out of his way to not be transparent about what that information is. I’m happy that we’re finally in Phase 4, but I’m a proponent of a regionalized approach and think some parts of the state should already be fully open in Phase 5.”

Under Phase 4 guidelines, more businesses can open with fewer restrictions. Gatherings of up to 50 people and restricted indoor dining at restaurants are now also permitted. In addition, movie theaters, performing arts center, zoos and museums can reopen on a limited basis.