* Sen. Bill Haine (D-Alton) was at a press conference yesterday to discuss the need for action at the state’s veterans’ home in Quincy. This slightly edited audio (it’s, for instance, two comments put together) is from the Senate Democrats. Have a listen…
* You really should listen, but if you can’t because of work or whatever, here’s the transcript…
We’ve been on a political treadmill on this for years and now we have a governor running for election, desperate to win the primary, and I attribute that to the fact that we don’t have a resolution to what seems to be the problem, which is in the pipes! And we have more Legionnaire’s diseases.
The Governor, of course, God love him, went to the home and spent seven days there. So what? Does he have a[n] impaired immune system? Does he have emphysema? Does he have a cancer which would cause a further impaired immune system? The answer is, of course, no!
So, what does it prove going to the home for seven days? What it proves is that he’s somehow empathetic. Empathy doesn’t get it, ladies and gentlemen. It’s a study and the implementation of executive orders. Get the pipes done, is my opinion. We owe these people a great deal, and for us to be on this political treadmill, while there’s no resolution.
There are photo ops, but no resolution. And the Governor drank some water, he said. So what? It’s time for him to get past the primary and get this job done for veterans. The people of Illinois are tired of hearing about it and I think it’s a tremendous dereliction of duty to ignore it any longer with further commissions, further studies, photo ops, whatever it is. Let’s just get it done. He’s the Executive. We are the Legislative Branch. If he needs the money, we’ll get it. Do it.
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I’m at a loss to understand why the Governor would not be responsible. The Governor is the Chief Executive Officer of the state. [He] appoints all these officials. Part of the commentary – you referred to it as vitriol – is to try shake him to the point where he acts to bring people in to get it done. It’s three years, the Chairman said, the Senator said. Part of our effort is to get it done.
I know it’s difficult running for office and chewing gum at the same time, but this man was elected the Chief Executive Officer of Illinois. In the old days, it was called the chief magistrate, and it’s up to him to get it done.
And, I’ll give you one example. What’s that phrase, “Where your treasure is, that’s where your heart is”? Drive by the Governor’s Mansion and see how that’s being done. When he came into office that was a wreck. A wreck! Look at it now, it’s being finished, rebuilt. In three years! What’s the difference between the Governor’s Mansion and a home for veterans who risked their lives for the United States and for Illinois? What’s the difference, Governor? There is none! The priority should be the Quincy Veterans Home, not the Governor’s Mansion, for God’s sake.
- Claud Peppers - Wednesday, Mar 14, 18 @ 2:37 pm:
Where’s Senator Jil Tracy? I recall her saying several years ago she would place her dad in the Quincy Veterans Home.
- Texas Eagle - Wednesday, Mar 14, 18 @ 2:44 pm:
Only the General Assembly can “appropriate funds.” The General Assembly’s unwillingness to appropriate funds to construct and maintain state owned properties is what lead to this catastrophe. Look at the Armory, look at the prisons, look at the offices and parking lots. They all contain lead paint, asbestos, they are in disrepair. Heck, in some buildings they can’t turn off the lights at night because the GA won’t spend money to upgrade the electrical systems. State properties are a mess.
The General Assembly hasn’t made a lot of progress since Thompson left office, and the only reason they made progress under Thompson was because of all the pork spending that came with the progress. Thanks to Thompson, the State is broke. Well, now every building needs a new roof, new windows, new pipes, new everything. Plus we owe $250B for pensions. What a mess.
I can’t believe anyone would want to be Governor of this State.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 14, 18 @ 2:45 pm:
===Where’s Senator Jil Tracy?===
Good question.
To the Post,
Until others decide that the IMMEDIATE and continued focus needs to be assisting those living in the home and holding Rauner accountable… it will get the 75 seconds of news time on TV… and the Vets will still not be protected as they should.
I don’t understand why “others” give Rauner quarter by remaining on the sidelines in educating voters betters
It’s bizarre.
- Norseman - Wednesday, Mar 14, 18 @ 2:50 pm:
Rauner’s horrible response will play big during the campaign. If the Dem nominee doesn’t do a heavy ad buy with this, than he shouldn’t be in politics.
- Cubs in '16 - Wednesday, Mar 14, 18 @ 2:54 pm:
===What it proves is that he’s somehow empathetic.===
Dropping the ‘em’ would be more accurate.
- Stand Tall - Wednesday, Mar 14, 18 @ 2:54 pm:
Go Texas Eagle, the State has been mismanaged for decades so Michael Madigan and his Democratic friends can keep the power. Power and control of the State is #1 not the citizens.
- illini - Wednesday, Mar 14, 18 @ 2:55 pm:
Thank you, Senator Haine, for saying what needed to be said and for echoing what many of us have been thinking for a long time.
We need more like you in the GA.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 14, 18 @ 2:56 pm:
Oh - Stand Tall -, lol
===Thanks to Thompson, the State is broke.===
… reading is fundamental.
You forgot Thompson.
- Leigh John-Ella - Wednesday, Mar 14, 18 @ 3:01 pm:
Texas Eagle,
Last I checked the executive branch runs that facility and is tasked with asking for the legislature’s approval of funding to make improvements.
No such request has ever been filed by the executive branch. If the executive branch never asks for an appropriation, how can the legislative branch ever know its needed, let alone consider approving it.
Are you recommending the Legislative branch start taking over and running Executive Branch agencies?
That’d be interesting.
- Claud Peppers - Wednesday, Mar 14, 18 @ 3:02 pm:
Couldn’t the Governor make an emergency procurement for such as he did for a billion contract at HFS? How is the legislator suppose to appropriate money if yhe Governor’s agency directors don’t submit a proposal to fix this? Did the Governor’s balanced budget proposal include fixing this?
- Anon221 - Wednesday, Mar 14, 18 @ 3:04 pm:
“What’s the difference between the Governor’s Mansion and a home for veterans who risked their lives for the United States and for Illinois?”
Thirteen deaths that could possibly have been prevented. And, Texas Eagle, why didn’t Rauner just do this 3 years ago??? He had the power to do so. Why didn’t he???
From WNIU:
“Calling the current water system a ‘danger to public health,’ the Department of Veterans’ Affairs is buying $650,000 worth of new water filters, faucets, and bacteria monitoring equipment.
By declaring the purchases ‘emergencies,’ the state is bypassing normal spending safeguards, which can add months of public scrutiny.”
https://tinyurl.com/yddvsznp
- jim - Wednesday, Mar 14, 18 @ 3:07 pm:
isn’t the gov’s mansion remodel being paid for with private contributions in a campaign that goes back several years.
Isn’t hte quincy issue of relatively recent vintage — a year old — and hasn’t the state spent considerable sums trying to fix it.
I think it’s hard to credibly argue the state has ignored the problems, but it’s proven incredibly difficult to fix. maybe demolition is the only solution.
- a drop in - Wednesday, Mar 14, 18 @ 3:18 pm:
10 “we need to do (item)”
20 “we can’t afford to do (item)”
30 goto 10
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Mar 14, 18 @ 3:43 pm:
It’s strange that from simply a selfish, self-preservation point of view that Rauner and BTIA(TM) don’t see how their lackadaisical approach to this problem could ultimately be their undoing.
I’m starting to think they’re not the brightest bananas in the bunch.
They better hope that discovery in the civil suits doesn’t become public before November. Can’t stonewall on those.
- pawn - Wednesday, Mar 14, 18 @ 3:45 pm:
Jim. Google is your friend. This problem first surfaced in the summer of 2015. It is not a year-old problem. It has been a problem almost since the Governor first took office.
- Texas Eagle - Wednesday, Mar 14, 18 @ 4:08 pm:
Governors have made billions in building requests to the GA and they are ignored. Sometimes they should be ignored.
Most of the time they are ignored so pork can be spent in individual districts (See the $700M spent at the tail end of the Quinn administration).
These problems didn’t just crop-up under Rauner. He inherited them, from decades of inaction from the GA, forcing the deferment of maintenance.
The next Govorner will have the same impossible challenges. Remember when the GA spent $270M fixing the Capitol? remember $700k doors? Every state building needs similar repairs. Eventually there will be federal court orders forcing the state to build new prisons. It’s a mess.
- Molly Maguire - Wednesday, Mar 14, 18 @ 4:18 pm:
He is 100% focused on Madigan and Pritzker.
- Mama - Wednesday, Mar 14, 18 @ 4:30 pm:
Rauner does not want to spend the money to fix the VA Nursing Home in Quincy. Besides his whole focus is on winning the election & throwing Madigan out of office.
- dbk - Wednesday, Mar 14, 18 @ 6:35 pm:
–It’s strange that from simply a selfish, self-preservation point of view that Rauner and BTIA(TM) don’t see how their lackadaisical approach to this problem could ultimately be their undoing.–
Yep. But somebody has to ensure this is their undoing.
For like the umpteenth (well, third) time: CapFax commenters, what’s to be done?
I’m willing to join forces with any/all who have a plan.
This is almost beyond belief; I’m not impressed by the fact that the Democrat primary contenders are largely MIA on this issue.
Bravo to Senator Haine. I’m going to communicate with my own senator (Koehler) to try to get him on board.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Mar 14, 18 @ 6:42 pm:
–For like the umpteenth (well, third) time: CapFax commenters, what’s to be done?–
Since after three years the state has not been able to kill the bacteria, the first obvious step is to move residents to new locations.
Rauner says they’re fragile, but I’m guessing with care they can be wheeled into and out of vans and into safe places.
It will cost money, which I think is the true hangup.
- dbk - Wednesday, Mar 14, 18 @ 6:59 pm:
wordslinger@6:42
I’d like to help make that happen.
Spoken as the child of a WWII vet, with six uncles who fought in the war.
Very unhappy Illinois camper.