State Rep. John Cabello of Rockford. | johncabello.org
State Rep. John Cabello of Rockford. | johncabello.org
Illinois construction workers last month were traveling to Wisconsin to work on a large construction project at Gov. J.B. Pritzker's horse farm, raising concerns from critics that he was not following his own rules.
"He's saying they don't want to have any unnecessary travel,” Rep. John Cabello (R-Rockford) told FOX 32. "It seems as though he has one set of rules for himself while everybody else has to abide by his stay-at-home order."
In an attempt to limit the spread of COVID-19, Pritzker's stay-at-home order had been in effect for more than two months. They order was lifted statewide in early June. But in early May, critics noticed Pritzker's wife and daughter traveling to the horse farm, raising concerns that Pritzker was giving special exemptions to his family.
At Pritzker's Wisconsin horse farm, the 7,000-square foot, $2.5 million construction project hired five contractors, four of whom are based in Illinois.
"Just crazy. I drive by all the time and there's at least 20, 30 trucks a day working on this place," Mike Wendricks, a neighbor who lives on the other side of the border, told FOX 32. "Which is great, Keep people working. But you don't want your Illinois residents working. I really don't understand that."
Pritzker defended his actions at a May news conference.
"First of all they're operating an essential function. Construction is an essential function," Pritzker said. "And second of all, they're union employees that are going to do the work that they do. And I've never said people can't cross the border to another state."
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