The Republicans representing local Illinois Senate districts say a big public outcry made Gov. Pritzker back off. The Illinois Department of Public Health withdrew the order to charge business owners with misdemeanors for opening sooner than the governor believes they should.
Sue Rezin of Morris says businesses won a small victory and Pritzker was forced to listen to the outcry over a massive overreach of power. She says the changes should go through the legislative process.
Brian Stewart of Freeport says the action shows the power of citizens letting legislative leaders know they won’t accept decisions made by a small group of lawmakers who represent just one region of the state. He says he hopes the legislative branch will be allowed as much input as the executive branch in addressing the concerns.