Chambana Sun

Veteran state Rep. Dan Caulkins (R-Decatur) is blasting Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s latest shutdown actions as a blatant abuse of power.

“The courts have already told him he doesn’t have the authority to do this,” Caulkins told the Chambana Sun. “Not only that, he knows none of this is justified. Think about it: he has a supermajority in the House and Senate. Why is he afraid to call us back into session and take a vote on this if he really feels it’s the right thing to do?”

Caulkins argues the governor recently moving to reenact COVID-19 restrictions in at least 24 counties while threatening to do the same in others only spells more heartache for the state. Miller argues the handwriting is on the wall with the governor now moving to reenact COVID-19 restrictions in at least 24 counties and threatening to hit others.

Despite the governor pointing to rising infection rates, the move has sparked nonstop outrage and instant pushback among small business owners already hard hit by earlier shutdowns.

With a Facebook page dedicated to businesses planning to defy his order already created and launched, Pritzker is now threatening to send the Illinois State Police to the regions where restaurants and bars are deemed to be in violation.

“You would never expect this in a democracy and the Democrats are to blame for not standing up to Pritzker as he violates everything from the rights of taxpayers to court orders to get his way,” Caulkins added. “These shutdowns are crushing Illinois businesses and destroying families. Besides the record unemployment, alcohol abuse, child abuse and depression are all running rampant. Illinois is crumbling financially, economically and emotionally. We’re on the verge of losing a whole generation at the hands of Democrats.”