Metro East Sun

Former Illinois state representative Dwight Kay worries about the impact the coronavirus stands to have on state’s fiscal future. 

“I understand all the health concerns, but at the same time it’s pretty tough to wake up one morning and see your whole business going up in smoke,” Kay told the Metro East Sun. “You talk to any small business owner and they’re really concerned about workers not being able to report and fill orders. I know they’ve been considered non-essential business, but when it affects your bottom line, everything is essential.”

It all figures into Kay’s growing concern about potential government overreach. In Champaign, a city ordinance has paved the way for the mayor and city council to do everything from limit gun sales to ration utilities and seize private property. The newly approved legislation also grants leaders the authority to impose emergency curfews, bar residents from public buildings and shutter businesses through the month of April.

Dwight Kay

More recently, Gov. J.B. Pritzker moved to enact a “stay-at-home” order for all residents across the state that is in effect through Tuesday, April 7.

“Like many others, I’m kind of confused with the shelter-in-place order because earlier in the week, the governor said he didn’t have the authority to do anything like that and we still went to the polls,” Kay added. “The whole tone changed so quickly and this shelter in place is really far-reaching.”

In coming to his decisions, Kay said he thinks that Pritzker would be better served taking a global view that looks toward the future.

“The governor has tremendous responsibility and part of that is making sure we still have an economy when this is over,” he said. “There comes a point where overprotecting people may have a consequence on people that can’t be overcome economically. We need to make sure we dismantle our entire system. We’re already tough on businesses in Illinois.”