Metro East Sun

Illinois state Sen. Steve McClure (R-Springfield) is proposing the creation of a commission of business people, small business owners and others to deal with the burning question of when lawmakers should move to re-open the state economy.

“I’ve been saying that there needs to be a group of individuals to deal with this, as we speak, because right now we’re really struggling based on all the policies instituted to help mitigate the spread of the coronavirus,” McClure told Sangamon Sun. “I really feel we need to act now, because soon it will be too late for many of our small businesses to have any real chance.”

For what it’s worth, McClure said he believes that message has made its way all the way up to the office of Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who he said continues to be slow to respond.

“He’s acting upon the advice he’s getting from health officials and it seems his main focus is just the virus,” McClure added. “The truth is there’s a whole group of others this disease is also making victims out of. I believe the governor needs to be looking at this from all angles.”

McClure argues that as models for the disease change, the governor’s planning needs to change too.

“We’re not where we were when we first learned of this disease,” he said. “I think that needs to be considered as we plot a course.”

In the meantime, McClure said he worries many of the policies put in place have been particularly crippling to small business owners. 

“My colleagues and I have discussed how it’s not fair that big box stores can remain open and sell shoes whereas a small business, that might never have more than five or six customers inside at any one time to begin with, is forced to close,” he said. “We’re really concerned that we’re digging an economic hole for ourselves that is going to be too big for some to dig out of.”