State Sen. Jason Barickman: Closure of restaurants and bars will be ‘devastating’

Posted on March 16, 2020
State Sen. Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington) spoke with WJBC’s Scott Miller on the Scott Miller Show. (Photo courtesy: Jason Barickman/Facebook)

By Blake Haas

BLOOMINGTON – On Sunday, Gov. Pritzker announced starting Monday night through March 30 due to COVID-19; however, one local lawmaker said Pritzker’s decision could have a rippling effect on the economy.

“This is going to have a devastating effect on lots of small businesses and lots of small restaurants for the employees who work there,” said State Sen. Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington). “We have never seen anything like this.”

Joining the Scott Miller Show, Barickman said he thinks people will resist Gov. Pritzker’s decision.

“I think there is going to be considerable frustration by the public. I think the public is reacting slower than the government is trying to mandate things,” Barickman added. “I think, unfortunately, you’re going to see people resisting this.”

Many local restaurants, such as Snappers in Clinton, took to social media to display frustration with the Governor’s decision.

“You saw that story out of Clinton, and I get it. People think there has been some overreaches by the government here. So you you have that bar owner over in Clinton who said he’s going to defy the order, I’m sure he won’t be alone that there will be others who do that,” said Barickman.

LISTEN: State Sen. Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington) talked with Scott Miller on the Scott Miller Show: 

Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected]. 

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