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* The AP’s write-up on the latest WBEZ story about the Quincy veterans’ home…
The Illinois Department of Labor reproach focused on emails that Illinois Veterans Home administrators sent to state workers, WBEZ Chicago reported Thursday. State labor officials said the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs “failed to effectively notify all employees” about the outbreak. Labor officials also said the veterans’ agency didn’t instruct workers about “proper precautions to avoid or eliminate exposure in a timely manner.” […]
Illinois Veterans’ Affairs Director Erica Jeffries, who will step down from that post next week, said Quincy employees were kept informed about the outbreak through emails, meetings and informational material posted at nursing stations.
“We communicated effectively to our staff and to our residents and certainly to the family members of each resident that was exhibiting signs and symptoms of pneumonia,” she said in a statement.
Her spokesman, Dave MacDonna, said the veterans’ affairs department “has been transparent concerning its response to the outbreak in 2015 and has provided thousands of documents to both members of the media and the General Assembly.”
Um, Rauner’s own Department of Labor directly disputes the notion that IDVA “communicated effectively” to staff. Labor specifically reported that the agency “failed to effectively notify all employees,” and didn’t explain matters to workers “in a timely manner.”
And transparent? Hardly. Remember all the redactions in the Legislature’s FOIA?…
A WBEZ analysis of nearly 450 pages of emails found that government lawyers blacked out portions of more than half the documents recently turned over to a legislative panel investigating the state’s inability to contain the waterborne illness.
* DGA…
Yesterday, WBEZ reported that the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs “failed to effectively notify all employees” at the Quincy Veterans Home about the 2015 deadly Legionnaires’ outbreak and had been “formally rebuked” by another one of Governor Bruce Rauner’s agencies. Since 2015, eight staff members fell ill to Legionnaires’ and 13 residents died.
Rauner has yet to hold anyone accountable for his administration’s failed response at Quincy. IDVA Director Erica Jeffries, who repeatedly claimed her agency was “very clear” with staff despite the formal finding, is being allowed to resign in May, leaving taxpayers on the hook for thousands of dollars in salary, benefits and potential vacation payouts. Illinois Department of Public Health Director Nirah Shah has been asked to step down by a Republicans lawmaker, but not by Rauner.
“Why hasn’t Bruce Rauner held anyone accountable for his administration’s botched response to the deadly Quincy Legionnaires’ outbreak?” asked DGA Illinois Communications Director Sam Salustro. “Governor ‘I’m not in charge’ is really living up to his nickname as he spends more time focused on deflecting blame than running a responsive government.”
* Meanwhile, on to the Tribune…
Gov. Rauner will soon get a say on whether state-run veterans homes should be required to more quickly disclose information about the presence of infectious diseases, a key issue lawmakers have used to criticize his administration’s handling of deadly Legionnaires’ outbreaks in Quincy.
CDC report on Quincy veterans homeThe Senate passed a bill by a 52-0 vote Thursday that would require veterans homes to write letters to all residents, post warning signs in common areas and regularly update the state’s veterans affairs and public health departments within a day of an outbreak being found. Lawmakers have repeatedly questioned if Rauner’s appointed directors were swift enough in those actions. Rauner spokeswoman Rachel Bold did not answer questions about if and when the governor would sign the bill, saying in an emailed statement that the administration “is clearly in favor of transparency and supported this legislation as it moved through the legislative process.”
The proposal would apply specifically to diseases known to be of higher health concern for the elderly — including Legionnaires’ — and kick in whenever two residents fall ill within a one-month period. Since 2015, 13 residents have died and dozens more have been sickened after several waves of Legionnaires’ passed through the home. The most recent cases of sickness surfaced in February. […]
The bill, which the House approved 110-0, is the first of several legislative measures inspired by the Quincy situation to clear both chambers so far. Lawmakers are also considering a development project with a price tag between $202 million and $245 million.
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, May 11, 18 @ 9:34 am
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The faces on Mount Rushmore will grow natural hair before you get a Mia Copa from BR.
Comment by Pieroge tirebiter Friday, May 11, 18 @ 9:39 am
The lack of concern and compassion is staggering. The failure to inform, and protect is criminal. I don’t see how the state can defend the actions at Quincy. They are going to lose all 11 lawsuits.
Comment by Retired Educator Friday, May 11, 18 @ 9:45 am
The Dept. of Labor seems to think it’s supposed to do it’s job rather than engage in incompetent cover-ups to make the boss look not so disengaged and indifferent.
–A WBEZ analysis of nearly 450 pages of emails found that government lawyers blacked out portions of more than half the documents recently turned over to a legislative panel investigating the state’s inability to contain the waterborne illness.–
What needs to be kept from the GA? Course positions of nuclear subs? Identities of spies in Teheran?
The state is going to get tuned up but good in those civil suits. What will be revealed in the discovery process will be brutal. BTIA(TM) has had years to get their stories straight and they still can’t do it.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, May 11, 18 @ 9:46 am
“Mea Culpa”
Comment by Anonymous Friday, May 11, 18 @ 9:47 am
The fact that not all employees had email or checked their email doesn’t bother me as much as the fact that they downplayed the danger in the email and now say they effectively warned people about the danger. They might have honestly believed at the time they were putting the right amount of concern into the email, they might have honestly thought it was a non-issue, but they were wrong and need to own that.
Comment by Perrid Friday, May 11, 18 @ 9:50 am
Is the title here referring to Rauner or Rauner’s governance?
Comment by Macbeth Friday, May 11, 18 @ 9:51 am
Honestly, this is a case of too little, too late. Where was this legislation two to three years ago?
Comment by Make Illinois Decent Again Friday, May 11, 18 @ 9:52 am
Make Illinois Decent Again,
Two or three years ago no one outside the Rauner administration, Adams County officials and the victims families knew this was happening let alone the scope of it.
Media reports pieced together the big picture only recently. That’s what spurred all this activity.
One could, and should, ask where the the Rauner administration — which runs the veterans home — was two or three years ago.
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Friday, May 11, 18 @ 9:57 am
I see the need, but why just veterans homes notifications and not all residential health care facilities? I’ve heard many a story about older folks going to a rehab facility after a minor procedure, hip/knee replacement for example, and leaving with MRSA or C-Diff.
Comment by Swift Friday, May 11, 18 @ 9:59 am
The coverup continues. If the a Administration can’t investigate it, which should be obvious at this point, someone needs to be brought in to do it.
Comment by Sonny Friday, May 11, 18 @ 10:05 am
It might take rauner 3 years to sign that bill. Oh wait, he is out of here in january
Comment by Anonymous Friday, May 11, 18 @ 10:16 am
==Ineffective, untimely and non-transparent==
When I first read this headline I was reminded of Dean Wormer’s admonition to Flounder.
Comment by Henry Francis Friday, May 11, 18 @ 10:18 am
Mia Culpa. Yeah I know. Small phone, small text, old eyes. A million pardons.
Comment by Pieroge tirebiter Friday, May 11, 18 @ 10:18 am
Agreed with the comments that Rauner should have held himself responsible. Apologies for my haste in blaming the GA
Comment by Make Illinois Decent Again Friday, May 11, 18 @ 10:20 am
One would have thought Rauner learned something from his nursing home debacle in March of 2014. Bruce defensively says was only on the THI board for one year (but the court docs show it was four)
Comment by Jocko Friday, May 11, 18 @ 10:44 am
What a narrowly focused bill
Comment by Bothanspied Friday, May 11, 18 @ 10:54 am
Why’s everybody bashing Rauner’s lack of response to this crisis? It’s not like he’s in charge of anything.
Comment by Morty Friday, May 11, 18 @ 3:42 pm