Metro East Sun

Illinois state Rep. Jason Plummer (R-Edwardsville) is doing all he can to control the fear of the unknown brought on by the spread of the coronavirus crisis.

“These are unprecedented times and no one is certain about everything we need to be doing,” Plummer told the Metro East Sun. “I would say for the most part there’s been good communication by local government, but again everything is a challenge.”

Plummer argues one of the biggest battles of all is keeping government wholly focused on the task at hand.

“I think government overreach is something we have to be sensitive to at all times, crisis or not,” he said. “It’s something we definitely have to keep our eyes on so that things don't go too far.”

In Champaign, a city ordinance has been enacted that gives the mayor and city council the power to do everything from limit gun sales to ration utilities and seize private property. The newly approved legislation also gives leaders the power to impose emergency curfews, bar residents from public buildings and shutter businesses over the next 28 days.

“That’s an example of the overreach I’m talking about,” Plummer added. "Right now, I think everyone needs to be stepping up to meet the needs of people, but as soon as we can get our arms around this crisis I would hope that everyone would retreat back to where things were.”

Finally, Plummer said he hopes the current climate comes to serve as a teachable moment for all his colleagues in Springfield.

“This is why so many people have warned us about the importance of having a conservative and reasonable budget,” he said. “Because of all the spending and debt, the state was already in a precarious position, and this crisis will only make things harder for us from a fiscal standpoint.”