* July 27, 2016…
Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner stopped by the Illinois Veterans’ Home Wednesday morning, a day after the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs announced two veterans had been diagnosed with Legionnaire’s disease.
The governor was there for a tour of the recently-completed water facility. The state completed the extensive $5 million renovation of the water system this year after 12 people died and 54 were sickened last summer as a result of the disease. Dozens of others were sickened. But health officials never found a source for the outbreak.
“We cannot let it happen again,” Rauner said.
* August 12, 2016…
State officials have confirmed a third new case of Legionnaires’ disease at a western Illinois veterans’ home since an outbreak there last year killed 12 people and sickened 54.
* September 20, 2016…
State officials are looking into more than a dozen cases of respiratory illness at a LaSalle Veterans’ Home.
Eleven residents tested positive with pneumonia over the past several months. One of the residents also tested positive for Legionnaires’ disease. A spokesperson for the Department of Veterans’ Affairs says the 97-year-old resident had multiple underlying issues and has since died.
A week and a half later, the IDPH chief of staff took a leave of absence to work campaigns.
* AP…
While the Department of Public Health faced the baffling return of Legionnaires’ disease at a state-run veterans home in 2016, a top administrator left to work on Republican campaigns for the Illinois House, records reviewed by The Associated Press show.
Erik Rayman, the chief of staff to Public Health Director Dr. Nirav Shah, took a leave of absence in October and November 2016, just two months after the return of the deadly disease at the Quincy veterans home that claimed 12 lives the previous summer and another last fall. Four new cases were reported last month. […]
State Sen. Tom Cullerton, a Villa Park Democrat and chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, criticized the move.
“Why is the chief of staff doing campaign work?” Cullerton asked.
“I understand that people come out of different offices and take leaves of absences, but it’s never a chief of staff,” he said. “With everything going on in Public Health, the chief of staff is the most important person in that department.”
* AP follow-up…
Gov. Bruce Rauner is unconcerned that his Public Health Department’s chief of staff took a 2016 leave of absence for political campaigning while the Quincy veterans home battled Legionnaires’ disease.
The Republican told reporters in East Peoria Wednesday that the home recorded no Legionnaires’ cases during Erik Rayman’s absence. The Associated Press reported Tuesday that Rayman took unpaid leave in October and November 2016 to work on Republican House campaigns.
Rauner said that at the time, “There hadn’t been any cases in quite a while.”
* Meanwhile, from the Pritzker campaign…
A day after Bruce Rauner declared “we in Illinois must strive every day to make it Veterans Day,” his Department of Public Health announced late on Friday that two dozen residents and staff at the Quincy Veterans’ Home had fallen ill with what they suspect is norovirus.
The announcement came in the form of a Friday news dump press release, a step above the administration’s “mind-boggling” and “inexcusable” six-day delay in announcing the Legionnaires’ outbreak in 2015. Under Bruce Rauner’s failed leadership, the Quincy Veterans’ Home continues to be plagued with health issues — from recurring fatal outbreaks of Legionnaires’ disease to the potential norovirus reported last week.
“With Bruce Rauner still failing to get the Legionnaires’ crisis under control, new health issues are now coming to light at the Quincy Veterans’ Home,” said Pritzker campaign spokesman Jason Rubin. “The lives of our nation’s heroes continue to be jeopardized by staggering incompetence at the highest levels of Bruce Rauner’s administration.”
*** UPDATE *** IDPH…
Erik Rayman was on a leave of absence from October 3 - November 30, 2016. During this time, IDPH continued to operate with a director, assistant director, and chief of staff. The previous IDPH assistant director, Michelle Gentry-Wiseman, served as the acting the Chief of Staff. Ms. Gentry-Wiseman was with IDPH from 1990-2003 in various roles, including serving as the first Chief of Staff at IDPH. Ms. Gentry-Wiseman returned to IDPH in March 2015 as the assistant director and served until she retired from public service in June 2016. She was well versed and involved with IDPH’s response to the Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in Quincy. For a week prior to his leave of absence, Mr. Rayman overlapped with Ms. Gentry-Wiseman to ensure a continuity of operations.
Please remember that IDPH’s role is a technical advisor, working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Adams County Health Department to advise the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs and the Illinois Veterans’ Home at Quincy on infection control procedures and water remediation efforts the facility should be taking. .
Melaney Arnold
Illinois Department of Public Health
Public Information Officer
* Related…
* Vietnam War veterans honored in Springfield: “How many governors do you know have actually gone to live at a veterans’ home,” [Veterans Affairs’ director Erica Jeffries] said, referring to Rauner’s one-week stay earlier this year at the veterans home in Quincy, which has seen several cases of Legionnaires’ disease. “Why did he go there? Because he wanted to be able to get to know those men and women who served our country. He wanted to get to know our staff who care for those veterans every single day. He does that in his walk as governor, and as a private citizen, every day.”
* Federal budget bill could benefit Illinois Veterans Home: U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth said the omnibus budget bill passed by Congress last week includes more than $500 million for “construction at state-run veteran health facilities” such as the Illinois Veterans Home in Quincy.
- 37B - Monday, Apr 2, 18 @ 11:51 am:
“Gov. Bruce Rauner is unconcerned.” Just like his whole term in office.
- Langhorne - Monday, Apr 2, 18 @ 12:00 pm:
“These things happen.”
“Did an excellent job. Wouldnt do anything different.”
“Never happier.”
- Arsenal - Monday, Apr 2, 18 @ 12:01 pm:
My experience in state government was limited to just two agencies, but neither one ever had Chiefs of Staff take leave to campaign. And these were without major crises.
- wordslinger - Monday, Apr 2, 18 @ 12:03 pm:
Stashing a campaign hack on the state payroll in a critical public health job during a deadly outbreak at a state vets facility?
Well done, Gov. Reformer.
That’s Len-Small-like corruption and contempt for the job and the people.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Apr 2, 18 @ 12:04 pm:
Campaigns > Governing
Raunerism.
- Union thug - Monday, Apr 2, 18 @ 12:06 pm:
Not like the administration is in charge /s
- Moby - Monday, Apr 2, 18 @ 12:12 pm:
One has to wonder if Rayman’s absence during a public health crises was no big deal to the agency because he doesn’t really do anything of any importance for them on a daily basis.
- wordslinger - Monday, Apr 2, 18 @ 12:22 pm:
–One has to wonder if Rayman’s absence during a public health crises was no big deal to the agency…–
Clearly, the decision was made at the top that his skills were better suited at the time to political campaigning rather than QBing the response to a public health crisis with a body count.
Who are we kidding here? He got stashed on the state payroll to draw a check on the taxpayer dime until the next campaign. His abilities to serve effectively in that critical position were not relevant to his getting that job.
That’s “reform” in Raunerworld.
- don the legend - Monday, Apr 2, 18 @ 12:29 pm:
Another glaring example of “Rauner Failed”.
However, I worry that Rauner”s failures are becoming so numerous that like Trump”s lies and exaggerations, the voters become numb or maybe overwhelmed.
JB’s campaign has so much to work with, I just hope they are able to effectively point out the volume and make the case for incompetence and corruption irrefutable.
- Anonymous - Monday, Apr 2, 18 @ 12:30 pm:
It just struck me that there have been outbreaks at BOTH Quincy AND LaSalle vet homes. All the furor of a lack of institutional control related to Quincy seems magnified by what shouldnt be a revelation .
- Nick Name - Monday, Apr 2, 18 @ 12:31 pm:
At least Blago’s political flunkies at IDPH had public health backgrounds.
- Henry Francis - Monday, Apr 2, 18 @ 1:11 pm:
I found this to be the most offensive thing in the above (other than vets getting sick/dying).
“How many governors do you know have actually gone to live at a veterans’ home,” [Veterans Affairs’ director Erica Jeffries] said, referring to Rauner’s one-week stay earlier this year at the veterans home in Quincy, which has seen several cases of Legionnaires’ disease. “Why did he go there? Because he wanted to be able to get to know those men and women who served our country. He wanted to get to know our staff who care for those veterans every single day. He does that in his walk as governor, and as a private citizen, every day.”
My god. Not only is she trying to sweep the deaths under the rug, she is trying to spin it as the Guv truly being a man of the people, walking the walk, and doing something no other governor has done.
How can she can get away with saying something like that? How can that be printed without pointing out the obvious?
- Norseman - Monday, Apr 2, 18 @ 1:15 pm:
=== At least Blago’s political flunkies at IDPH had public health backgrounds. ===
You mean the shoe store manager who became COS after the COS related to a congressman left and was imprisoned later for corruption while COS?
- Nick Name - Monday, Apr 2, 18 @ 2:04 pm:
===You mean the shoe store manager who became COS after the COS related to a congressman left and was imprisoned later for corruption while COS?===
I didn’t say they set a high bar.
- Michelle Flaherty - Monday, Apr 2, 18 @ 2:13 pm:
To the update …
From October 3 to November 30, 2016, the House Republican Organization campaigns were a higher priority for the chief of staff for the Illinois Department of Public Health than the public health of the state of Illinois.
Great statement of commitment.
Don’t know about you, but I sure feel safer.
- wordslinger - Monday, Apr 2, 18 @ 2:17 pm:
In case you had any doubts, that update from IDPH should convince: Rayman had no purpose at the agency to begin with; he was not needed at all.
He was just collecting a fat state paycheck until the next campaign rolled around.
Who at IDPH thought that release was a good idea?
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Apr 2, 18 @ 2:20 pm:
===Erik Rayman was on a leave of absence from October 3 - November 30, 2016. During this time, IDPH continued to operate with a director, assistant director, and chief of staff. ===
… then “why the heck” do they need Erik Rayman??
They had a …director, assistant director, and chief of staff.
Next time just say…
“Erik Rayman has no responsibilities here whatsoever.”
Worked for Lt. Weinberg…
- Michelle Flaherty - Monday, Apr 2, 18 @ 2:34 pm:
Anyone going to ask Jim Durkin about this?
The guy was out doing work for Durkin’s campaigns rather than overseeing day-to-day at public health.
- Blue dog dem - Monday, Apr 2, 18 @ 2:45 pm:
Looks like any old fiscal conservative can find some more fat to cut.
- GI Joe - Monday, Apr 2, 18 @ 2:49 pm:
Why did BVR spend those nights at the Quincy Vet Home?….to get more cool pins and patches for his leather vest.
- Swift - Monday, Apr 2, 18 @ 2:50 pm:
Some crack reporting by the AP. Chief of staff takes a leave of absence, state agency hires experienced professional to take his place.
- Soapbox Derby - Monday, Apr 2, 18 @ 2:54 pm:
Let’s all remember that Madigan’s spokesman doesn’t have to take a leave of absence to work on political campaigns since he’s contractual and not a State employee.
- Demoralized - Monday, Apr 2, 18 @ 3:00 pm:
==IDPH’s role is a technical advisor==
Soooo . . . we’re not in charge.
I think there’s a theme to this administration
- Demoralized - Monday, Apr 2, 18 @ 3:11 pm:
==Because he wanted to be able to get to know those men and women who served our country. He wanted to get to know our staff who care for those veterans every single day==
No, he wanted to do a publicity stunt to show it was safe to stay there.
- Conservative Valueless - Monday, Apr 2, 18 @ 3:33 pm:
=Let’s all remember that Madigan’s spokesman doesn’t have to take a leave of absence to work on political campaigns since he’s contractual and not a State employee.=
Because Madigan ????
- Captain Ed Smith - Monday, Apr 2, 18 @ 3:56 pm:
The reason this didn’t happen under other governors is those COS’s were typically long time agency vets that had moved up the bureaucratic ladder. Under Rauner, COSs came straight from the IRP or the RNC.
- wordslinger - Monday, Apr 2, 18 @ 4:08 pm:
–Let’s all remember that Madigan’s spokesman doesn’t have to take a leave of absence to work on political campaigns since he’s contractual and not a State employee.–
What connection are we to make between the responsibilities of a paid flack and the chief of staff for a $325M state agency with 1,100 employees charged with ensuring public health?
It’s not coming to me, right away.
- nick - Monday, Apr 2, 18 @ 5:17 pm:
Of course he is a political hack. Nothing is any different with Rauner, and nothing will be any different if JB wins.
- ‘Ol yellerstain - Monday, Apr 2, 18 @ 6:51 pm:
I forgot - what branch of the military did Rauner serve in again ? .. anyone ?
- Arthur Andersen - Monday, Apr 2, 18 @ 10:49 pm:
Yeller, the same one that Madigan, Cullerton, Mendoza, and Frerichs served in. The Democrat Guard.
- Lorna - Tuesday, Apr 3, 18 @ 5:43 pm:
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