Chambana Sun

State Rep. Dan Caulkins (R-Decatur) thinks Gov. J.B. Pritzker desperately needs to expand the circle of individuals he turns on for COVID-19 advice.

“The governor is always talking about how he follows the advice of his expert advisers when it comes to fighting this virus,” Caulkins told the Chambana Sun. “If that’s the case, I think they’ve really steered him wrong and he needs to get back down to Springfield and get some input from other lawmakers who’ve actually had a chance to talk with the people of the state.”

Caulkins argues that Pritzker’s five-phase “Restore Illinois” plan for fully restarting the state economy really isn’t much of a plan at all. It calls for the state to reopen on a region-by-region basis that takes into account some areas of the state may be more ready for a relaunch than others.

Pritzker said the state is already on Phase 2 of the plan, which allows nonessential stores to open on a limited basis as the spread of the coronavirus ideally begins to wane.

“I think he’s misjudged things and doesn’t understand what’s happening outside of Cook County and maybe a couple of collar counties,” Caulkins said. “The way he’s doing things shows a lack of respect or understanding for all the people of Illinois outside of Chicago. People see all the inconsistencies in the orders he’s enacted and they see through all the contradictions.”

While Pritzker has indicated he doesn’t envision the state reaching Phase 5 of his plan, or fully reopening for business, until a vaccine or effective treatment for the virus becomes available, Caulkins said he is hoping against hope that the governor comes to see the light.

“The governor has told us he looks at science and data and adapts to the situation,” he said.”Hopefully, he’ll do that in listening to people and what they have to say about this plan and where we need to be as a state. He certainly needs to be more flexible about things if we’re going to have any chance of getting this state back up and running before the damage becomes too much.”