Metro East Sun

Wood River Township Supervisor and former Illinois House candidate Mike Babcock (R-Bethalto) is surprised by Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s apparent disdain for the state's small business community.

“He’s supposed to be a businessman at heart,” Babcock told the Metro East Sun. “I’m sure he’s focused on saving more lives, but he’s harming people in other ways. He’s giving people very little latitude in being able to fend for themselves.”

Pritzker recently announced that he would support a new rule that would fine businesses up to $2,500 for failure to enforce regulations for face coverings and social distancing. Amid widespread Republican opposition, the governor is defending the proposed rule as a way to aid law enforcement, local boards of health, school districts and the general public in policing the use of face masks and limiting social gatherings.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker | File photo

Babcock sees it more as a simple abuse of power by the governor's office.

“This would put an even bigger strain on businesses that are already struggling to cooperate under almost impossible conditions,” he said. “I just don’t understand why he keeps doing these things a lot of us think won’t help and even more of us feel he has no power to enact.”

Pritzker tried enacting similar legislation back in May, but withdrew it amid much criticism before a scheduled Joint Commission on Administrative Rules hearing. Babcock hopes to see small business owners take a stand for themselves as they have throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I worry a lot about businesses not being able to afford something like this, given everything they’ve already been forced to endure,” he said. “You can’t just destroy people’s livelihoods. The governor needs to start considering the full consequences of his actions instead of just governing through fear and intimidation.”