The Effingham County Chamber of Commerce hosted an online webinar on Thursday morning at 9:00 a.m. with State Rep. Blaine Wilhour (R-Beecher City) to discuss and answer questions on his suggested reopening plan for Illinois businesses. Over 70 participants joined on the live program to learn and ask questions about how his plan would work as opposed to the governor’s five-phase plan.
“My plan uses common sense and respects the medical experts on protecting the most vulnerable people. Instead of taking years to get to the governor’s phase five because he requires a coronavirus vaccine, my plan takes a maximum of 6 weeks,” explained Rep. Wilhour. “Requiring a vaccine is not practical or realistic at this point…we still don’t have a vaccine for HIV that has been worked on for thirty-six years so far.”
Questions from business owners and concerned citizens included concerns on restaurants opening outdoor seating, the IDHP emergency rule to fine and jail people who don’t follow the governor’s stay-at-home guidelines, and the impact on schools and families using parks and facilities outside.
“We had a small victory yesterday when IDPH withdrew its new emergency rule of making criminals out of people who are doing everything they can to keep people safe but also need to feed their families and pay their bills and employees,” added Rep. Wilhour. “Because of all of our people contacting the governor and the members of the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR), the rule to fine business owners up to $2,500 and a year in jail was removed for the time being, but we need to stay vigilant on fighting this kind of overreach of power.”
Representative Wilhour is available for similar programs in other areas to answer questions about his plan for reopening businesses and the economy. Please contact the district office at 217-994-9348 to schedule a date and time.