Peoria Standard

Peoria conservative activist Gary McCullough still can’t make sense of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the worse, I would say his performance has been an 11,” McCullough told the Peoria Standard. “He was fully aware that he only had the authority to impose a 30-day shutdown, but all his decrees went past that mark and were without even basic logic.”

With the state now having finally moved into Phase 4 of the governor’s five-part Restore Illinois plan, more businesses can open with fewer restrictions. Gatherings of up to 50 people and restricted indoor dining at restaurants are now also permitted. In addition, movie theaters, performing arts center, zoos and museums can reopen on a limited basis. But McCullough fears the damage may have already been done.

“The small business industry in this state probably won’t ever be the same,” he said. “All across the state, you’ve got businesses not reopening and there almost certainly will be more.”

McCullough argues none of it strikes him as having been rational.

“(The governor) says he’s making all his decisions based on science, but I can’t understand where he’s getting his information from,” McCullough added. He wants the president to mandate face masks nationally and there is no scientific basis for that. At the same time, he had to be forced to allow churches to reopen.”

McCullough said none of what Pritzker has done has been consistent or even practical.

“He’s made excuses for him to be able to attend protests while closing down churches,” he said. “Then, there’s the way he’s allowed big-box retailers to continue operating while closing down small shops everywhere. He needs to get out of the way so this state can fully reopen.”