“He’s (Pritzker’s) showing little interest in moderating the aggressive stance he’s taken since Day 1. That means, in a political sense, he gets all the credit or all the blame. For the time being, Pritzker’s getting a lot of blame.”

Illinois boasts a recovery rate of 97% as most people who contract it show mild or no symptoms.

“There’s no plan,” the staffer said. “They were supposed to isolate to their room but some of them have the IQ of a nine-year-old. They’re coming out in the hallway with their masks off and screaming and yelling.”

“Pritzker promised property tax relief to get state lawmakers to place his ‘fair tax’ on the Nov. 3 ballot, and created the task force to that end…But there is no relationship between higher state income taxes and lower property taxes, an Illinois Policy Institute study showed. And Illinois has higher property taxes than all seven states that collect no income taxes.”

“I know that the vast majority of people in this state want to keep themselves safe, their families and children safe, their parents, neighbors and friends,” Pritzker said in a statement. “As cases, hospitalizations and deaths are rising across our state, across the Midwest and across the nation, we have to act responsibly and collectively to protect the people we love.”

“While higher income taxes will undoubtedly be one part of any durable solution to the current budget mess, the passage of this referendum would allow the state to delay other politically painful but necessary reforms to achieve long-term solvency—namely, a reduction in the long-term pension obligations and negotiations with the state’s bondholders to reduce their payments.”

“We went through the last one; it was supposed to last two weeks and lasted what, 120 days?” said Jeff Buckler, owner of Buford’s Pub in Sadorus. “I’m fighting for every small business out there. I’m just tired of being told what to do when they’re using the bars and restaurants as scapegoats. What about the Walmarts and Targets?”

McHenry County Chairman Jack Franks, one of Pritzker’s oldest political allies in the state, said, “According to the McHenry County Economic Development Corp., the county has already lost about 26% of its small businesses this year, and many others barely survived the previous lockdown. Some of them, I am sorry to say, will not make it through the winter.”

Illinoisans on average receive $19,999 in annual Social Security benefits and $30,950 in retirement income from sources such as 401Ks or IRAs. That brings total retirement income to $50,949. Currently, none of that income is taxed. However, a progressive income tax could mean that these retirees will eventually pay taxes.

Illinois politicians do not have a great track record when it comes to keeping promises to taxpayers.

It’s Deja Vu all over again for Highland Park restaurant owner Steve Geffen. “It’s definitely tough to have to go through this again. We had just started building up our business again where we’re having some people come inside and sit down. To start all over again, it’s definitely rough.”

Edwardsville is named for Edwards, who was governor of the Illinois Territory from 1809 to 1818 and served in several leadership roles before he became the state’s third governor.