The five Republicans in Illinois’ 18-member U.S. House delegation are asking Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker for a phased plan to reopen the state’s economy, saying “it is unreasonable and untenable to continue on this course for the duration of the pandemic.”
“The fact is, communities across the state are desperate for a plan to navigate the reopening of business in a responsible, reasonable manner,” the congressmen wrote in a letter to Pritzker on Thursday.
“There is a strong desire among the people we represent to move forward with a plan focusing on balancing our health and our economy. It should not be an either/or proposition,” the congressmen said.
The letter, signed by Reps. John Shimkus of Collinsville, Adam Kinzinger of Channahon, Rodney Davis of Taylorville, Mike Bost of Murphysboro and Darin LaHood of Peoria, appears to have come a day after they spoke to Pritzker by phone. The letter references matters “discussed on the call yesterday.”
The letter by the Republicans represents yet another effort within the state’s minority political party to push Pritzker into a more widespread opening of Illinois’ economy than the Democratic governor has indicated he will allow. Pritzker’s most recent stay-at-home executive order expires Friday but he is poised to sign a 30-day extension.
The congressmen said they were “grateful” for the Illinois residents, health care professionals and civil servants “who have followed the guidance provided by you and President Trump.”
They said that while the risk of an overwhelmed health system has been mitigated, “the greater threat looming over Illinois is the collapse of our economy if your stay-at-home order continues in its current form.”
“We must, therefore, work with our public health experts to establish a path forward that no longer ignores the economy that feeds and fuels our families and society,” they said.
The Republicans, who largely represent downstate areas, said a phased reopening “can and should begin” in those areas that have had fewer cases of the coronavirus. The state Public Health Department has reported cases in 97 of the state’s 102 counties.
It has been largely in rural, conservative areas where residents have chafed under a perception that Pritzker’s regulations are motivated by Chicago’s efforts to control the spread of the virus.
Pritzker has maintained that the virus has no regard for geography and can spread anywhere, but has said any reopening of the economy will give strong priority to regional hospital capacity and capability to handle any hot spot.
Pritzker said he spoke with the state’s entire congressional delegation Wednesday and didn’t disagree with the Republicans “that different areas of the state require different rules.” He said changes in his new order taking effect Friday acknowledged those regional differences.
“Elective surgeries, state parks, golf courses and so many of the things that we’ve opened up just in this (new) executive order that only is in effect for a month here is an indication, indeed, (of) my recognition and our recognition that it’s different from one area to another and we’ll be talking more about that as we put forward plans for reopening,” he said.
But Pritzker also cautioned, “Just because (people) don’t live in Chicago or Cook County or the collar counties doesn’t mean they are not in danger.”
The Republican congressmen acknowledged improved testing “will be critical” to any reopening plan. But they said federal funding approved by Congress, including $25 billion for a comprehensive national testing plan in the most recent relief package, means Illinois “will have the resources necessary for a robust testing system and we will ensure the state has the flexibility to create a regional approach.”
Pritzker has acknowledged that the state has been able to increase testing in recent days but is still seeking increased supplies to conduct more widespread tests. At the same time, he acknowledged that current antibody testing has proved unreliable.
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