August 4, 2020 – A commission of state lawmakers designed to help rebuild Illinois’ economy in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic met for the first time last week and was supposed to meet again today.
Despite saying the goal was to meet every Tuesday, the Restore Illinois Collaborative Commission meeting Tuesday was canceled. The group was created to collaborate with Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s administration on reviving Illinois’ economy in the wake of COVID-19. One member of the commission said the governor’s office didn’t provide anyone to address and answer the members’ questions Tuesday. The governor’s office didn’t immediately respond.
State Rep. Dan Caulkins, R-Decatur, is among the Republican minority on the commission. He said Republicans could barely get their voices heard at the first meeting.
“I think it was collegial. I don’t know how collaborative it was,” Caulkins said.
He characterized it as a “sham,” or more of a press conference than a meeting where elected representatives could hold Pritzker administration officials accountable.
The commission plans to meet every Tuesday. That’s after the first meeting with the Department of Public Health lasted for just 75 minutes.
Caulkins said if future meetings are like the first meeting, this will be a disservice to residents living under restrictions promoted by the governor.
“What is the General Assembly doing with our advice and consent role,” Caulkins said. “As you see here now, nothing, we’re still being pacified so to speak but we’re not really having any input.”
Caulkins said he wants public hearings with not just agency directors, but middle management employees who are doing the day-to-day work.
In the second monthly report to the commission from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Pritzker administration laid out resources it has made available from federal and state funds for distressed communities, small businesses and renters. The 12-page report also outlines the eleven new regions the governor created since the last report.
“We’re thankful we’re back to at least eleven regions instead of four but it’s still way too broad,” Caulkins said, noting Republicans have pushed for a more regional approach. “If you noticed what’s happened they’re now talking about counties and where the hot spots are so perhaps we’ve had some impact. Don’t know if that’s enough. But it was a bit of progress.”
Reports are due every 30 days until the commission is dissolved by law at the end of the calendar year.
