Kane County Reporter

Former Republican state House candidate Ben Bierly wonders how Gov. J.B. Pritzker has gotten away with what he sees as his assault on the freedoms of people across the state for as long as he has.

“It makes no sense to continue restrictions on people’s liberty in the name of coronavirus,” Bierly told the Kane County Reporter. “People are fed up with the tyrant king’s proclamations.”

Bierly said he isn’t surprised to see more people now 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.  

“It’s past time for We the People to stand up to him,” Bierly added. “For businesses like bars and restaurants, it’s becoming a matter of survival of the business. Some have already closed permanently; others will join that list if we continue to obey unlawful orders restricting their operation.”

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

“I believe the governor is grasping at straws here,” he said. “He can’t really revoke the licenses of establishments because he hasn’t followed due process. Businesses can only be closed by order of a court, which has not happened. While some courts will obviously follow the tyrant king’s edicts, on the whole, this won’t happen. I expect we’ll end up with a Supreme Court decision reversing the governor’s orders, but I fear many small business owners will be forever hurt by these unjust restrictions.”

Bierly is urging the governor to do what needs to be done to help small business owners get over the hump.

“Continued aid will not help small business owners and their employees survive,” he said. “The only thing that will help is allowing them to operate their businesses to the maximum safe extent. The General Assembly should be involved in this process. We the People need to take back out state.”