* The Southern…
Employees of the Clyde L. Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center took to the streets Tuesday to protest Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s mandate that state employees be vaccinated against COVID-19.
Early in the day, about a dozen protestors stood at the intersection of Vienna and Main streets with signs protesting. Most had worked the midnight shift at the center before attending the protest. Later, leaders of the group said the crowd grew to about 30 people as those working days at the center got off work and joined the protest. […]
State Sen. Terri Bryant, R-Murphysboro, agreed.
“I have always been in favor of encouraging improved access and availability to vaccines for citizens who make the personal choice to be vaccinated. However, the Governor’s recent vaccine mandate is just the latest example of the Governor’s massive overreach when it comes to the state’s pandemic response,” Bryant told The Southern.
Click here to watch the video of the small group of anti-vax protesters, who are supposed to be caring for some of our state’s most vulnerable individuals, and make sure to check out the top pic. Ouch.
…Adding… Senate Republican staff…
Good morning Rich! Hope you are well.
In regard to your post titled “Sen. Bryant calls state worker vax mandate “massive overreach,” I wanted to provide you with Sen. Bryant’s full statement on the issue. The Southern only ran the first part.
“I have always been in favor of encouraging improved access and availability to vaccines for citizens who make the personal choice to be vaccinated. However, the Governor’s recent vaccine mandate is just the latest example of the Governor’s massive overreach when it comes to the state’s pandemic response.
“The Governor’s recent actions to mandate vaccinations is a slippery slope. People’s rights are being threatened single-handedly by one person. The right for someone to make the personal choice to get the vaccine shouldn’t be left to the Governor’s unilateral discretion.
“While I understand and respect any and all efforts to protect our most vulnerable residents, I firmly believe that a one-size-fits-all approach isn’t the answer.”
Thanks!
Not sure how that context helps her, but whatever. Many of the Choate residents are profoundly disabled. They cannot be cared for at home. And their care requires close human contact because many have to be moved. And yet some state workers believe their own mythical “rights” that do not exist in this nation’s history outweigh the health and safety of their co-workers and the people they are being paid to help.
* Related…
* 3 Choate Mental Health administrators indicted on felony charges
* Clyde L. Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center: How an archaic system results in tragic consequences for people with disabilities
* Your ‘personal choice’ not to get COVID vaccine is putting our ‘healthcare heroes’ at risk
- PublicServant - Wednesday, Sep 8, 21 @ 3:44 am:
Stop playing. Fire them.
- Kippax Blue - Wednesday, Sep 8, 21 @ 4:15 am:
I hope those protest saw many many more single digit extension. I am offering a similar gesture toward them now, the state has an obligation to protect its vulnerable against these “protesters”. Fire them.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Sep 8, 21 @ 5:55 am:
AFSCME is *not* a serious labor organization, part 2,905.
These protesters can look for other employment opportunities, they are hurting Illinois’ most vulnerable.
- Bruce( no not him) - Wednesday, Sep 8, 21 @ 7:28 am:
==State employees who work in congregate facilities have until Oct. 4 to get vaccinated or be subject to testing.==
Those who don’t want the vax, have an out. Just do something. Nothing is not an option.
- Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Wednesday, Sep 8, 21 @ 8:03 am:
Lived in Union county for decades. If there is a state facility that has long out-served it’s purpose and is begging to be shuttered, it’s Choate.
- Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Wednesday, Sep 8, 21 @ 8:06 am:
Terri Bryant-another small gubmint Republican drawing one state pension, and one day, two.
What she don’t know about anything would just about squeeze into the Grand Canyon.
- Grateful Gail - Wednesday, Sep 8, 21 @ 8:40 am:
State employees at the developmental centers are already being tested at least once a week; sometimes twice a week. The problem is by the time they are tested they have sometimes had the virus for several days and have passed it on to others. If residents are exposed then they are quarantined to their cottages, and are not able to leave the center for outings, etc. The only answer is the vaccine. AFSCME - get the vaccine, or get another job! Protect those you say you care about….if you really cared you’d have gotten the vaccine already.
- Cheryl44 - Wednesday, Sep 8, 21 @ 8:46 am:
So fire them.
- Pundent - Wednesday, Sep 8, 21 @ 8:46 am:
Ending the pandemic is a massive overreach? Because that is the goal of vaccine mandates.
Terri Bryant doesn’t want the pandemic to end. That’s the only logical conclusion that I can draw from her comments.
- Manchester - Wednesday, Sep 8, 21 @ 8:47 am:
Dear Senator Bryant, you’re part of the problem and not part of the solution. People like you are prolonging this pandemic for everyone. Those employees need to get vaccinated or be fired.
- Skeptic - Wednesday, Sep 8, 21 @ 9:00 am:
Dear Sen. Bryant, if AFSCME is “Flooded” (https://capitolfax.com/2021/09/07/afscme-flooded-with-vax-mandate-feedback/) by comments about their anti-mandate statements, your “dozen” protesters are on the losing side of the argument. Get the shot. Please.
- Anon E Moose - Wednesday, Sep 8, 21 @ 9:01 am:
We want this pandemic to be over and that can only happen with the vaccine. What is the alternative? Reliving 2020?
- Dee Lay - Wednesday, Sep 8, 21 @ 9:03 am:
Well look at that. The consequences of their actions.
Com on y’all, Get the #TrumpVaccine
- Grandson of Man - Wednesday, Sep 8, 21 @ 9:18 am:
How many Republicans know that health mandates work but don’t support them due to fear of losing votes? It’s one thing to be some forlorn person posting Jesus/flag/religious memes on Facebook all day and rejecting health science, but quite another to be a leader who should know better.
- Nick - Wednesday, Sep 8, 21 @ 9:23 am:
It’s just selfish. Pure and simple.
You work with such vulnerable populations and won’t take one of the most tested vaccines in history.
- Grimlock - Wednesday, Sep 8, 21 @ 9:25 am:
For all the people I hear going on about their religious freedoms and a vaccine exemption because of their beliefs, I should be seeing a lot more cars in church parking lots.
- Larry Bowa Jr. - Wednesday, Sep 8, 21 @ 9:30 am:
“It’s just selfish. Pure and simple.”
Selfish and also profoundly stupid.
Looking forward to the next urgent mailer from Council 31 about how I need to stand in solidarity with them after they just aided and abetted their members’ “rights” to negligently sicken and kill vulnerable people in their care. Solidarity baby!
- sal-says - Wednesday, Sep 8, 21 @ 9:42 am:
#TheInsanitiesGeneration
Sadly, the screamers are wearing the rest of us down. And slowly winning.
- The Dude Abides - Wednesday, Sep 8, 21 @ 9:44 am:
There was once a time in this country when we could all pull together for a common cause. WWII would be an example. There are a bunch of nuts out there that think it’s time for a revolution and oppose anything our health professionals or our political leaders recommend, especially Democrat politicians, who in their minds are evil.
- Candy Dogood - Wednesday, Sep 8, 21 @ 9:47 am:
===indicted on felony charges===
I can’t believe these people are still on the payroll.
DHS is advancing the premise that they’ll fire people for not being vaccinated which they do have every legal authority to do but won’t fire these administrators for what has been factually demonstrated.
Kind of makes me wonder a bit about what’s going on at DHS that makes them unable to hold those people above a certain pay grade accountable.
- cermak_rd - Wednesday, Sep 8, 21 @ 10:04 am:
30 protesters? that doesn’t even fill one L for heaven’s sake.
There is one change I would make to the test or vaccine regime. In Germany, one can get a certificate if one was treated in a clinic or a hospital and recovered. Recoverees (as long as they have not received antibodies) have acquired their antibodies the hard way and should be recognized (but only if treated in hospital/clinic) as equivalent to vaccinees. I would exclude those not treated in hospital or clinic because people lie.
- Saluki - Wednesday, Sep 8, 21 @ 10:05 am:
===For all the people I hear going on about their religious freedoms and a vaccine exemption because of their beliefs, I should be seeing a lot more cars in church parking lots.===
Jesus would have the dang vaccine because he practiced what he preached. Shut up about your supposed religious exemption and actually love your neighbor.
- Ducky LaMoore - Wednesday, Sep 8, 21 @ 10:08 am:
“I have always been in favor of encouraging improved access and availability to vaccines for citizens who make the personal choice to be vaccinated.”
Yep, pro-choice when it comes to harming others. Great. Just come out and say, “I support reckless endangerment,” already.
- Excitable Boy - Wednesday, Sep 8, 21 @ 10:26 am:
- People’s rights are being threatened -
Yeah, notably the right for the profoundly disabled to be cared for by employees that follow basic health and safety protocols.
A state job isn’t a constitutional right, grow up and suck it up. My 2 month old daughter did less crying when she got 4 vaccines yesterday.
- very old soil - Wednesday, Sep 8, 21 @ 10:50 am:
General Washington unilaterally decided that all of his troops had to get vaccinated against smallpox
- Publius - Wednesday, Sep 8, 21 @ 10:51 am:
Unfortunately a lot of employees in that area consider their state job as a constitutional right. But they are also happy to vote for Byrant/Bost/Trump who would be happy to see their state job ended just to save a nickel. Has Byrant ever been to Choate to visit.
- thoughts matter - Wednesday, Sep 8, 21 @ 10:54 am:
Please. Quit your job if you don’t want to get vaccinated. Your personal decision is dangerous to others. Quite literally, your right to not get vaccinated ends at the nasal passages of everyone else. Coming to work unvaccinated isn’t any safer for others than coming to work under the influence.
- Fixer - Wednesday, Sep 8, 21 @ 10:56 am:
Oh look, Rep. Bryant continuing to make this pandemic political. Guess she hasn’t read those 800 odd pages she was delivered yet.
- Fixer - Wednesday, Sep 8, 21 @ 10:57 am:
Sorry, Senator Bryant. I need more coffee to deal with this today.
- Mason born - Wednesday, Sep 8, 21 @ 10:59 am:
Bryant’s statement seems to miss a huge distinction. The Gov isn’t acting as the Governor of IL requiring all citizens to get a shot but as their employer requiring them to get the shot as a condition of employment. Those are not the same things even if the Sen. would like to conflate the two.
- Birds on the Bat - Wednesday, Sep 8, 21 @ 11:23 am:
Oh look, Rep. Bryant continuing to make this pandemic political.
Last year JB closed businesses, schools, churches, fairs, concerts. etc, because of science. We are no better off now and all these things are open. Who’s making it political?
- The Doc - Wednesday, Sep 8, 21 @ 11:26 am:
==We are no better off now and all these things are open==
Wow, just wow. This tops ‘em all in terms of sheer shamelessness.
WE. HAVE. VACCINES.
- Fixer - Wednesday, Sep 8, 21 @ 11:27 am:
Birds on the Bat, did the governor only single out Republican businesses for closure? Or schools in Republican districts? No? Your argument (which seems to be parroting Sen. Bryant’s) is nonsensical. This virus doesn’t care who you voted for at the ballot box.
- SW Sider - Wednesday, Sep 8, 21 @ 11:28 am:
I guess this is one way for the GOP to win back union support post Rauner.
- Excitable Boy - Wednesday, Sep 8, 21 @ 11:35 am:
- We are no better off now and all these things are open. -
There are free, available vaccines now you idiot. All you and your fellow morons need to do is get them in your arms.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Sep 8, 21 @ 11:42 am:
=== Last year JB closed businesses, schools, churches, fairs, concerts. etc, because of science.===
I guess - Birds on the Bat - is anti-science.
That makes sense.
- Moe Berg - Wednesday, Sep 8, 21 @ 11:43 am:
There are 24,132 confirmed Covid deaths in IL and 2,564 probable ones.
Just sticking to confirmed, that’s equivalent to about 8x the number killed on 9/11. In one state alone. Nevermind the thousands sickened and those not fully recovered.
How would one describe our nation’s response to 9/11 if JB’s science-grounded Covid policies constitute massive overreach in the mind of Sen. Bryant?
The GOP is fully given over to the nuts, save for a very few.
- Unconventional wisdom - Wednesday, Sep 8, 21 @ 11:54 am:
I just don’t get it. Why are people so obstinate about not getting a vaccine shot, u less their MD says it is not a good idea for them personally?
And why are the unions so opposed? Again, just don’t get it.
- Pundent - Wednesday, Sep 8, 21 @ 12:18 pm:
=Why are people so obstinate…=
We have a minority of people that are opposed to being told what to do and a political party that desperately wants their support.
- Sir Reel - Wednesday, Sep 8, 21 @ 1:06 pm:
Death is overreach too.
- Annonin' - Wednesday, Sep 8, 21 @ 1:14 pm:
Apparently GOPies staffers did not listen to the Sen. spread her love on Tom Miller’s radio show https://www.wjpf.com/podcast/newswatch-podcast/ The whole rodeo is about 18, but the love comes through at the 6 min mark. You’re welcome
- Lt Guv - Wednesday, Sep 8, 21 @ 1:27 pm:
Bird on a Bat left out a few words from their handle. The full moniker is Looney Bird as Crazy as Bat &*@%.
- Too much hate - Wednesday, Sep 8, 21 @ 1:53 pm:
Ive read the fax for several years, starting around Blago times. The generalizations/hate of people on here is hard to stomach. Too much negativity and nastiness for my taste. I miss the old days when there could be an open intelligent discussion.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Sep 8, 21 @ 1:56 pm:
===starting around Blago times===
Sorry, but it’s AFSCME’s turn in the barrel.
Also, if the sainted Bill was still alive, you could ask him what it was like trying to defend Rod on this here site. Wasn’t pretty. lol
- Too much hate - Wednesday, Sep 8, 21 @ 2:06 pm:
I remember Bill! Basically lived it everyday, he was a glutton. My point is, people can have opinions and curtisey too. The answers are not always black and white.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Sep 8, 21 @ 2:11 pm:
=== My point is, people can have opinions and curtisey too. The answers are not always black and white.===
Here’s the sitch to that;
“Alternative Facts” is not talking about things, it’s now beating down misleading items and lies these days.
Rod was a known entity of “misinformation and misleading words”
The Rauner-Trumpkin folks think lies are facts, and argue they are facts to gaslight or worse.
It ain’t the blog. It’s the worst of the worst that took over the former GOP
- Fixer - Wednesday, Sep 8, 21 @ 2:25 pm:
I wasn’t around here until 2012, but I do partly agree that there’s been a shift in tone. It started under Rauner when grift and lies became partially normalized by the ILGOP. When the national Republican party went all in on the same time of behavior in 2016, it normalized that kind of behavior for their base and the mask was off for a lot of the ugly we’re seeing now. You can’t have a rational discussion when the person on the other side of the table is living in their own fantasy world where rules and facts are different than reality.
- Too much hate - Wednesday, Sep 8, 21 @ 2:50 pm:
Mr. WILLIE
Fyi, back in the day, lol. The comments, traffic and discussions on here were many times what they are now. Fact or fiction????
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Sep 8, 21 @ 2:58 pm:
=== The comments, traffic and discussions===
Illinois was in a near-constant state of crisis for 16 straight years. That brings out the comments.
But traffic has definitely not declined as far as I can tell.
- Pundent - Wednesday, Sep 8, 21 @ 3:01 pm:
=The answers are not always black and white.=
Except when they are. A few weeks ago Senator Bryant demanded to see the science that showed masks worked. Now we all know that there’s plenty of science behind the effectiveness of masks. And I’m sure that Senator Bryant knew that as well when she made the request. She likely didn’t expect to be called out on it.
And when she was ultimately provided with 800 pages of science she then deemed it as “political”. It seems that Senator Bryant wants to spread misinformation without any consequences or accountability for her actions.
When a lie collides with facts courtesy can, and should, go out the window. We’re in the midst of a deadly pandemic and cannot allow misinformation to be accepted as “opinion” when it is clearly not.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Sep 8, 21 @ 3:20 pm:
===were many times what they are now===
Arguments predicated on both parties choosing sides on established facts will always be greater to the discussion of the politics and policy.
Arguments that begin with the knowledge one side wants another set of “un-facts” as the basis of the argument will wade down to the honesty or lack there of.
In sixteen years of crisis, from the day Rod was sworn in to the day Rauner left office, Illinois has been dealing with a leadership vacuum where getting Illinois to place of stability seemed out of the grasp. Even the Quinn years had rudderless end games.
Now, you wanna discuss the depth of discussion, I’d like the times where truthful difference of opinion had its weight.
We have Bryant here questioning validity.
Plus, the critique of an argument, be it here or elsewhere isn’t making any argument, it’s an excuse to not hold tight to ones own higher bar.
As for me, the same folks, like Bryant, for 6 years have been willing to overlook given facts and given to feeding the mob thinking outside what are the given facts. Your beef is with that.
- Thomas Paine - Wednesday, Sep 8, 21 @ 4:12 pm:
Rich -
It is important to understand that with Downs Syndrome in particular, residents are immune compromised, highly susceptible to respiratory infections, and Downs Syndrome is now categorized ascan autoimmune disease.
- M - Wednesday, Sep 8, 21 @ 4:26 pm:
I’m sure they would fire the anti-vaccination people if they could easily find people to replace the people they fired.
- Saluki 1964 - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 3:46 pm:
A bit ironic. I guess only some deserve the priority of their health. s/ Bryant’s joint press release (on cancelling an upcoming health fair for seniors) says, “”Out of an abundance of caution and care for the health and well-being of our constituents throughout Southern Illinois, we have made the decision to postpone upcoming senior citizens health fairs scheduled in Marion and Carbondale scheduled for next week. We regret that we must take this step, but our number one priority must be ensuring the health and safety of the hundreds of senior citizens and dozens of healthcare and senior services providers that would be in attendance at these events.”
https://thesouthern.com/news/local/legislators-postpone-upcoming-carbondale-and-marion-senior-health-and-wellness-fairs/article_6522881a-3606-53cc-a65d-e051d9867e97.html