Sangamon Sun

Illinois state Sen. Steve McClure (R-Springfield) considers some of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s policies regarding the COVID-19 pandemic to be somewhat misguided and unfair to the state's small business owners.

“We’ve got small businesses struggling to survive and [Chicago] is on the brink of total chaos in so many different ways, and his focus is on finding ways to hurt small businesses even more,” McClure told the Sangamon Sun. “Think about it, the state just released a lot of people from prison, including murderers, even child murderers, and all the governor seems worried about is how he can make small business owners pay.”

Pritzker recently announced that he stands behind a rule that would fine businesses up to $2,500 for failure to enforce regulations for face coverings and social distancing. As Republicans have quickly voiced their opposition to the proposal, the governor has defended his position by arguing the change will aid law enforcement, local boards of health, school districts and the general public in policing the use of face coverings and limiting social gathering.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker | File photo

“Everyone needs to follow health guidance recommendations, but the governor is taking this too far,” McClure said. “The courts have already ruled he doesn’t have the authority to just enact policy any way he wants to.”

Pritzker tried enacting similar legislation back in May, but withdrew it amid much criticism before a scheduled Joint Commission on Administrative Rules hearing. McClure is hoping business owners will stand up for themselves as they have been forced to on numerous occasions during the pandemic.

“Small business owners everywhere are trying to be compliant,” he said. “But things like this just don’t seem fair when you’re targeting the businesses that are most on the brink. We have to make sure that our small business industry is not crippled so much that it completely collapses.”

McClure says there is no way that business owners can be expected to force people to behave a certain way when even the state has not been able to achieve full compliance.

“I hope they try to make sure everyone at their business does social distancing and wears a mask, but you can’t expect them to police that,” he said.