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* UPDATED x4 - Durkin, Curran still opposed * Sterigenics announces agreement with Illinois, “strictest EO control environment of any facility in the country”

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Sterigenics, a leading provider of mission-critical sterilization services, today commented on its agreement with the State of Illinois which will enable the company’s Willowbrook sterilization facility to resume operations and continue sterilization of life saving medical devices for patients and hospitals in Illinois and across the country. The agreement resolves all of the current litigation between the State of Illinois and its representative agencies and Sterigenics, with no finding of liability or fault by either side and with no imposition of penalties.

Under the terms of the agreement, which is subject to court approval, Sterigenics will install additional emission capture and control equipment that will enable the Willowbrook facility to meet the new, stringent standards set by the State of Illinois for sterilization using ethylene oxide (EO). In addition, Sterigenics has agreed to fund $300,000 in community projects designed to benefit the environment and the local community, to be developed in coordination with the State.

The company previously submitted its permit application to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IL EPA) for the installation of the new equipment which will further enhance the state-of-the-art systems already in place at Willowbrook and reduce remaining EO emissions by:

Increasing the number of emission control stages to increase EO capture;
Combining the existing emissions stacks into one common stack at the facility; and Eliminating the release of EO “fugitive” emissions from the plant.

Sterigenics has also agreed to reduce EO usage at the Willowbrook facility and to a combination of continuous emission monitoring, emission stack testing and ambient air monitoring to ensure and to demonstrate that the additional controls are working. The Sterigenics Willowbrook facility will resume operations upon approval by the IL EPA following the installation of the new controls.

“We are pleased to have reached this agreement, which creates a path for our Willowbrook facility to resume its safe operation and includes no finding of wrongdoing on the company’s part nor the imposition of any financial penalties,” said Sterigenics President, Philip Macnabb. “The State Government has gone to great lengths to set new standards for the protection of the public that are more stringent than any other location in the country. While our Willowbrook operations have consistently complied with and outperformed the State’s requirements, we have repeatedly stated our support for evolving regulations and our commitment to enhancing our operations in the interest of protecting public health. We remain committed to abiding by the new regulations established by the State. By resolving this matter, we are one major step closer to resuming the critical work of sterilizing vital medical products and devices in Willowbrook for patients in Illinois and beyond.”

The installation of new emissions controls will firmly establish the Sterigenics Willowbrook facility as having the strictest EO control environment of any facility in the country.

I have asked the governor’s office, the attorney general’s office and the House Republican Leader’s office for comment.

*** UPDATE 1 *** Leader Durkin’s spokesperson…

We were just informed this morning when a meeting was convened by the AG and IEPA offices. Leader Durkin, Senator Curran and Rep Mazzochi voiced their extreme opposition and frustration to the potential of Sterigenics reopening.

Yikes.

Sen. John Curran…

I continue to stand with the residents of Willowbrook and the surrounding communities who are fighting for clean air and a healthy future. For years, as testing has shown, Sterigenics has posed a critical public health risk to our communities. They must remain closed.”

The IEPA had scheduled an August 1 public hearing on Sterigenics. Durkin wanted to wait at until after that hearing to do anything.

*** UPDATE 2 *** Stop Sterigenics…

This is far from over. It’s disappointing the state couldn’t go further to protect a community that has been burdened by this company’s emissions for decades. That the company would rush forward this release ahead of the State being able to inform the community is just one more indication that they don’t care about who they may harm in their drive for profit. We expect better from our leaders, there has been no credible threat of medical disruption and, without a demand to do better, industry will not move from ethylene oxide and propylene oxide.

*** UPDATE 3 *** Press release with emphasis in the original…

Attorney General Kwame Raoul and DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin today filed a motion to enter a consent order with Sterigenics U.S., LLC (Sterigenics). Once it is approved by the court, the consent order would resolve a lawsuit filed by Raoul’s and Berlin’s offices in 2018 against Sterigenics over air pollution violations due to the release of the toxic chemical ethylene oxide (EtO) at its plant in Willowbrook, Ill.

Raoul and Berlin filed the proposed consent order today in DuPage County Circuit Court. The proposed consent order builds off of a new law signed by Governor JB Pritzker, which imposes the strictest limits in the nation on EtO emissions from sterilization facilities and other companies that use EtO. The proposed order prohibits Sterigenics’ Willowbrook facility from resuming sterilization operations unless the company installs new emissions capture and control systems, which must be approved by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA).

“The proposed consent order surpasses the emissions limits contained in Illinois law by incorporating all of the emissions and monitoring requirements included in the Matt Haller Act recently signed by Governor Pritzker. In addition, Sterigenics must comply with the strictest capture and control requirements in the nation and cannot reopen until it is in compliance,” Raoul said. “The proposed consent order, combined with the strict regulations in the new law signed last month, will enable the state to act quickly to hold Sterigenics accountable for violating Illinois’ emissions limits.”

“The consent decree entered into today should in no way be considered a license for Sterigenics to reopen,” Berlin said. “The decree will govern Sterigenics going forward and in doing so goes above and beyond the most restrictive regulations in the country placed upon businesses that use EtO in their operations. I would like to thank Attorney General Kwame Raoul, his staff and members of my office for their extended efforts the past several months. Their work is what brought us here today. I would also like to thank Governor Pritzker as well as the Illinois EPA for their commitment to the health and welfare of the residents of Willowbrook and the surrounding communities.”

“Illinois EPA is committed to ensuring Sterigenics complies with Illinois’ stringent new law for controlling ethylene oxide emissions, which were established by the General Assembly,” said Illinois EPA Director John J. Kim. “This agreement calls for Sterigenics to not only comply with those new requirements, but also imposes additional requirements to further protect the public and the environment. The Illinois EPA will devote all necessary resources to enforce the terms of this consent order.”

In June, Gov. Pritzker signed a law prohibiting EtO-emitting sterilization facilities, including Sterigenics, from operating in Illinois unless the facility captures 100 percent of all EtO emissions generated by the facility. Additionally, these facilities must reduce EtO emissions to the atmosphere from each exhaust point by at least 99.9 percent, or 0.2 parts per million. The law also requires facilities to conduct annual emissions tests and submit results to the IEPA. If a facility fails to meet the reduced emissions requirements, it must immediately cease operations. It must also notify the IEPA within 24 hours and is required to conduct an analysis within 60 days to determine why the test failed, take corrective actions, and seek IEPA approval before seeking to restart operations.

The proposed consent order prevents Sterigenics from conducting sterilization operations at its Willowbrook facility – comprised of two buildings, Willowbrook I and Willowbrook II – until significant improvements are made to limit EtO emissions. Under the proposed consent order, Sterigenics will be subject to penalties and contempt of court for violating the terms of the proposed consent order. The net effect of the requirements in the proposed consent order will be to reduce the EtO emissions from Sterigenics’ Willowbrook facility to no more than 85 pounds per year. This represents a drastic reduction from Sterigenics’ reported annual emissions from 2006 to 2018, which ranged from 2,840 pounds to 7,340 pounds per year.

The proposed order also requires Sterigenics to perform environmental projects in the village of Willowbrook or neighboring DuPage County communities. Within 30 days of the consent order’s entry, Sterigenics must put $300,000 into an escrow account, and the company will have 60 days to submit project proposals for state approval. The projects, which must include environmental improvements, or educational scholarships or programs, must be completed within one year of the court approving the consent order.

Handling this case for Raoul’s Environmental Enforcement Division are Division Chiefs Matthew Dunn and Christopher Wells, Bureau Chief Elizabeth Wallace, Senior Assistant Attorneys General Kathryn Pamenter and Stephen Sylvester, and Assistant Attorney General Daniel Rottenberg.

*** UPDATE 4 *** Pritzker administration…

In response to increasingly troubling emission tests, the Governor ordered the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to take the extraordinary measure of sealing the Sterigenics facility to protect the health and safety of the people of Willowbrook. The administration made it clear to members of the General Assembly that he would be willing to sign any measure, up to and including a ban, on the use of ethylene oxide in the state of Illinois. Members of the General Assembly drafted legislation that did not prohibit the use of ethylene oxide but did create the most stringent regulations around its use the country. The Illinois EPA will monitor Sterigenics to ensure they operate within the stringent framework lawmakers created in their legislation. Our top priority remains the health and safety of every citizen and we will continue to work with their representatives in the General Assembly, as we have for the past several months. The consent order that will be signed as part of the litigation creates detailed, enforceable mandates that Sterigenics must comply with if it seeks to do business in Illinois. The consent order will ensure swift judicial oversight to protect members of the community.

* Related…

* In a bid to reopen shuttered Willowbrook plant, Sterigenics proposes tighter controls on cancer-causing gas

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 2:28 pm

Comments

THAT IS IT?! Only 300K in restitution to the community. Pathetic.

Comment by Interested Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 2:41 pm
Didn’t Durkin say something like over his dead body they’d resume operations? Smh. This is a deal the state should be ashamed of…Sterigenics owes that community and those sick families way more.

Comment by Interested Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 2:43 pm
JB owns this now.

Comment by Fly Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 2:44 pm
It isn’t “cancer causing gas.”

The dose makes the poison. Grade school science.

This was an out for JB; company did nothing wrong, was the victim of gutless pols, including him.

But reality sets in. The supply chain was interrupted for surgical supplies in the Chicago area— a problem that no doubt caused more real harm than EO ever did.

Then there’s the problem of Medline, which emits gas too but somehow got a reprieve. But the Abrams are big Dem donors…

Comment by Anti-junk scientist Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 2:46 pm
===…today commented on its agreement… ===

Governors own, they always do.

Now, it will be up to the Pritzker Administration to grasp that something like this, without, maybe, community input and the words of a campaign statement… that’s all past.

The Administration has taken, starting with this agreement, the issues from what will happen going forward, and all the “cleanup” they feel is now… cleaned up.

Hope they thought this *all* the way through. There’s is no going back, and the community will be right focusing on them.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 2:49 pm
This is wrong. So wrong

Comment by Morty Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 2:51 pm
Welp?

Durkin flak?

===“We were just informed this morning when a meeting was convened by the AG and IEPA offices. Leader Durkin, Senator Curran and Rep Mazzochi voiced their extreme opposition and frustration to the potential of Sterigenics reopening.”===

Sen. John Curran?

===“I continue to stand with the residents of Willowbrook and the surrounding communities who are fighting for clean air and a healthy future. For years, as testing has shown, Sterigenics has posed a critical public health risk to our communities. They must remain closed.”===

This isn’t going to go away.

Victims and the community with allies choosing their own health and safety… there better be one of those ironclad…

“With support of victims and the community, the Administration announces an agreement with all sides… “

Yeah, anything less than that will only help Durkin, Curran, maybe an angry community too.

Yikes indeed.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 2:55 pm
If they are meeting emission standards CAN you close them down?

By what authority?

Now, if they emit again…

Comment by Fav human Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 2:55 pm
And just like that: ZEN over.

Comment by A guy Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 2:56 pm
Is there any mention in the statement that these reforms will reduce the risk of cancer in the area? Perhaps that’s implied but still.

300k does seem low…. however the state failed to properly regulate this for years. And I’m sure there are other environmental disaster sites in the Chicago area that would have appreciated this sort of attention and any restitution whatsoever.

Comment by JJJJJJJJJJJ Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 2:57 pm
Sounds like the State jumped the gun, possibly for political purposes. When their bluff was called, they end up folding their hand in embarrassment.

Comment by Birdseed Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 3:00 pm
This company needs to remain closed. Democrats can’t just give lip service to environmental protection—a reason why some or many despise Democrats. Stop with the neoliberalism and do what you’re elected to do.

Comment by Grandson of Man Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 3:01 pm
Sweet deal for Sterigenics. They should be on the hook for medical and living expenses for every cancer diagnosis that exceeds the expected rate in the region. Shame on everyone who agreed to this.

Comment by Froganon Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 3:02 pm
Sterigenics needs to be permanently closed, They can’t be trusted to run a clean operation.

Comment by Froganon Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 3:05 pm
The reason I’m so… confused…

This Administration has been incredibly good at being ahead of things.

Did the Administration let this fly without having a release, from the governor… not already “in hand”?

Did the Administration work with Sterigenics on this language?

If the Administration did work to have this be Sterigenic’s language… why not have a response already out there?

This is not how they usually go about their business.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 3:06 pm
This community has been sold out for $300k. Villages budget more for landscaping…. What a joke.

Comment by JEK Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 3:06 pm
Medline - big donors of dems and personal friends

Comment by Fly Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 3:08 pm
Nice of JB to use the people of Willowbrook to win an election and now allow this company to poison the community again. All data has proven Sterigenics to be the emitter of the cancer-causing neurotoxin with 3 schools within a mile. Kids will go to elementary, middle, and high school breathing this poison. This bad actor cannot be trusted. Keep them closed.

Comment by BR-Res Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 3:17 pm
Rich, check your facts. IEPA is holding a public meeting, not a hearing.

Comment by JBFan Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 3:25 pm
Too bad Republican officials don’t insist upon stringent regulations on corporations to protect public health until the polluters are in their backyards.

Comment by anon2 Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 3:43 pm
$300,000?

Just ONE cancer patient could spend that on medical bills.

Comment by hisgirlfriday Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 3:46 pm
===$300,000?

Just ONE cancer patient could spend that on medical bills.===

The smart political move, next, is to have Mrs. Thome abc others stand in front of microphones with those medical bills.

I’m mean… Durkin and Curran… the community… this was one you get so far ahead, especially after doing…

… a campaign ad…

… and you make clear y’all are partners and that ad and Durkin turning on Rauner over this… lead to an inclusive solution.

You have those microphones and victims and Mrs. Thome at one of the “schools” of the victims, or a place one would not think poison should be a worry.

This isn’t a good look… right now.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 3:51 pm
=Hope they thought this *all* the way through. There’s is no going back, and the community will be right focusing on them.=

Agree.

This issue was used against Rauner successfully. Now Pritzker takes his place in the minds of the people of Willowbrook. Bad policy, bad politics, in one fell swoop for JB.

All politics is local. This is how you lose a community. Even if the facility passes every test, people in Willowbrook want it gone, and for good reason. Pritzker is now the biggest face between them and their goal.

Comment by phenom_Anon Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 4:01 pm
===Even if the facility passes every test, people in Willowbrook want it gone===

That’s not how laws work.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 4:05 pm
Sterigenics was meeting required national EPA guidelines when all this broke. Politics has spun it into an out of control situation, add to it the fact Rauner was a part owner of the company.

They now state it exceeds IEPA requirements? So what next? If they can’t do it there then where? Put in the country your near a food or water source. Is that better? They disinfect medical equipment would we rather leave it up to a guy with rubbing alcohol and a rag?

Anyone see Chernobyl? Yet we give tax breaks to Exelon and applaud job creation for something that can destroy so much and is far worse than EO could ever be.

Comment by Dupage Bard Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 4:06 pm
===That’s not how laws work.===

This.

What was needed was a hand-holding process that brought Durkin, Curran, the community, et al, into process so when a release like “they” have, there isn’t a “feel” or “belief” the Administration kinda just informed everyone and… “they only got fined what we see as one victim’s medical bills”

The process to an ending is the confusing part for me.

The law (or laws) will apply. That’s how society works

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 4:09 pm
Oh boy…

===That the company would rush forward this release ahead of the State being able to inform the community is just one more indication that they don’t care about who they may harm in their drive for profit.===

This is 1,000% what I was worried about.

Did the Administration let this fly without having a release, from the governor… not already “in hand”?

Did the Administration work with Sterigenics on this language?

If the Administration did work to have this be Sterigenic’s language… why not have a response already out there?

I’m mean… Durkin and Curran… the community… this was one you get so far ahead, especially after doing…

… a campaign ad…

… and you make clear y’all are partners and that ad and Durkin turning on Rauner over this… lead to an inclusive solution.

This Administration is usually much more in tune.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 4:19 pm
Well said, OW.

I wonder whether the administration agrees with the “no finding of wrongdoing” quote.

Comment by Robert the Bruce Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 4:27 pm
This administration hasn’t been tested enough to know whether or not they are in tune.

Comment by Sonny Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 4:29 pm
=That’s not how laws work.=

????
Maybe my comment was written in a confusing manner. So again, even if the facility passes every test, people in Willowbrook want it gone. The law doesn’t have any authority over what people want. And regardless of how cleanly Sterigenics performs, the people of Willowbrook will continue to want it gone.

If you live in Willowbrook, you know that the facility was closed, then Pritzker’s administration and Raoul made an agreement to allow it to reopen. So they will blame Pritzker and maybe a little bit on Raoul. That is how they feel, and the law has no authority over how they will feel.

=What was needed was a hand-holding process that brought Durkin, Curran, the community, et al, into process…=

Yes. The people of Willowbrook saw Durkin and Curran fighting to close the facility and then keep it closed. So when they see Durkin and Curran condemn the agreement, an agreement that the community activists are also condemning, it makes it hard to believe that JB cares about their safety and the safety of their children. And the law has no authority over that feeling either.

Comment by phenom_Anon Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 4:54 pm
To UpdateX4

===The administration made it clear to members of the General Assembly that he would be willing to sign any measure, up to and including a ban, on the use of ethylene oxide in the state of Illinois. Members of the General Assembly drafted legislation that did not prohibit the use of ethylene oxide but did create the most stringent regulations around its use the country===

For the love of Pete… who wrote the bill?

It’s rhetorical, easy to find, not a heavy lift… but if the end game was in a bill, any passed bill, that the governor was going to sign, can Durkin and Curran say they’re disappointed that the bill didn’t do enough?

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 4:56 pm
===who wrote the bill?===

Durkin.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 5:01 pm
===Durkin===

So Durkin is upset how this went down, but the bill he sponsored only went so far, and not enough, and this is part and parcel of what we’re discussing?

This is a head scratcher.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 5:13 pm
===Leader Durkin… voiced …extreme opposition and frustration to the potential of Sterigenics reopening.===

My hope is Leader Durkin shows his extreme frustration to the sponsor of the signed bill… Leader Durkin

Huh?

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 5:31 pm
===the “no finding of wrongdoing” quote===

I’m guessing many are reading that release for the first time, and not having a chance to see it in a draft?

That Sterigenics release is… a doozy.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 5:48 pm
As reported so far, Sterigenics got it their way. Guessing both parties acquiesced to a mutually semi-destructive outcome.

Comment by Cadillac Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 6:18 pm
Not keeping the local legislators informed is bad form. If they were Democrats I can’t help but wonder if J.B. and Raoul would have done a better job keeping them in the loop.

Comment by Just Me Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 6:51 pm
===Not keeping the local legislators informed is bad form. If they were Democrats I can’t help but wonder if J.B. and Raoul would have done a better job keeping them in the loop.===

(Sigh)

Durkin is upset the bill… Durkin sponsored… didn’t go far enough.

That’s for openers.

You think anyone but Sterigenics was in the loop on both the language or release of their statement?

We now have 6+ months and a legislative session behind us; does any of this resemble the way Pritzker, or his Administration, has gone about his business?

This Administration, like all administrations, has a way they go about their business, their signature, style, their way.

If you’re at all honest, does any of this look like the way this Administration has gone about these 6+ months?

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 6:57 pm
Oswego Willy — if a legislator passes a bill, it is good politics to keep that legislator informed on the implementation of that bill. That did not happen here. If the sponsoring legislators were Democrat, I can’t help but assume they would have been more involved and not found out the same day the public did.

Comment by Just Me Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 9:16 pm
===if a legislator passes a bill, it is good politics to keep that legislator informed on the implementation of that bill.===

I’m not questioning that. At all.

Quite the contrary. It appears Sterigenics decided to inform everyone else. Bad form on their part, or savvy PR to be first out, no interference from anyone, let everyone chase.

Looking at this, you see this as a usual SOP of the Pritzker Crew? I don’t. Nothing of it looks like that. Why? Sterigenics decided the timetable.

===If the sponsoring legislators were Democrat…===

First, ugh.

Second? Second, Sterigenics would’ve done the same thing because it’s smart PR policy for a company accused of allegedly spreading cancer to be the ones dictating how a message and messaging should be.

===I can’t help but assume they would have been more involved and not found out the same day the public did.===

lol, tell that to the Pritzker Crew, as I can’t imagine them, after watching them for almost 2 years they decided today to be caught purposely flat-footed.

It’s as though you are conceding Sterigenics has been an honest actor in all this, including now. What makes you so sure of that?

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 9:24 pm
Must not have been many Democratic votes in Willowbrook. I guess poisoning Republicans isn’t a concern of the Democratic Governor or the Democratic Attorney General.

Comment by Tim Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 10:10 pm
===Must not have been many Democratic votes in Willowbrook. I guess poisoning Republicans isn’t a concern of the Democratic Governor or the Democratic Attorney General.===

… and yet it’s Durkin’s bill that didn’t go far enough.

You forget that, or gloss over that.

You choose.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 10:12 pm
Oswego Willy,

But who is allowing it to re-open? Democratic Governor and Democratic Attorney General and Democratic Governor. Bob Berlin must be up for his pension as well because if he allows this he probably doesn’t get re-elected either.

Comment by Tim Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 11:09 pm
Oswego Willy,

But who is allowing it to re-open? Democratic Governor and Democratic Attorney General. Bob Berlin must be up for his pension as well because if he allows this he probably doesn’t get re-elected either.

Comment by Tim Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 11:10 pm
===But who is allowing it to re-open?===

The law.

Anything else? Are you done arguing like a child? Thanks.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 11:42 pm
Lord help us. This polluting happens in many industries and goes unregulated or health concerns totally disregarded all for corporate profits. Seems like socialism for corporations paid for by taxpayers with their hard earned dollars and health. Thank you for this thread Rich, many people are unaware of what is causing cancer and illness in our communities.

Comment by Enviro Thursday, Jul 18, 19 @ 4:57 am
Oswego Willy,

If it’s really no big deal I wonder how you’d react if they opened one of these facilities in your neighborhood. I imagine your attitude would change rather quickly.

Comment by Tim Thursday, Jul 18, 19 @ 7:54 am
===If it’s really no big deal I wonder how you’d react…===

No. Keep up.

You want to make this a partisan thing, not a health thing.

It’s says quite a bit about you, actually, so concerned about “Democrats” when Leader Durkin, a Republican sponsored a bill that didn’t go far enough.

How’s that?

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jul 18, 19 @ 8:00 am
- Tim -

This ain’t Facebook….

===Must not have been many Democratic votes…===

===Democratic Governor and Democratic Attorney General===

Now you wanna make it a “health issue”?

Again, argue like an adult.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jul 18, 19 @ 8:02 am
I think it should re-open, right next to Governor Pritzke’s house. Wonder if he’d be in favor of it then.

Comment by Michael Westen Thursday, Jul 18, 19 @ 8:02 am
===I think it should re-open, right next to Governor Pritzke’s house.===

… and yet, Leader Durkin who lives down there doesn’t sponsor a bill to end this?

Wonder if you’re upset about that. I would be.

Again, if you wanna make this a partisan thing, you don’t care about the families, the victims, or the area.

I’m quite fascinated. Leader Durkin comes out and blasts, and yet, being a legislator, the chief sponsor of the bill to help the situation, the bill is… useless to closing the facility?

Why not sponsor a bill to the issue instead of issuing a press release ignoring your own bill?

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jul 18, 19 @ 8:53 am
I think the real issue here is people don’t trust Sterigenics. I live in the area and have heard stories (some from people who actually worked there and were told to do it) that Sterigenics would illegally dump and didn’t like being questioned about whether that was safe. They intimidated their employees to do something that their employees knew was wrong but for fear of their jobs (and know for fear of criminal or civil action) they did not speak up or fight back. People are dying and people are scared. And politics aside, that’s totally legitimate and totally warranted.

Comment by Fantasma Thursday, Jul 18, 19 @ 9:57 am
It will be interesting to see if Durkin or Curran support JB in the future on necessary votes. Durkin brought in some votes last session for the tax increase for Rebuild Illinois. Just wondering if the trust factor is now gone?

Comment by Law Man Thursday, Jul 18, 19 @ 11:38 am
===Durkin brought in some votes last session for the tax increase for Rebuild Illinois. Just wondering if the trust factor is now gone?===

Why?

Because Leader Durkin sponsored a bill that failed Willowbrook?

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jul 18, 19 @ 11:40 am
OW,
Because Durkin thought he was working with a guy whose word meant something. Now, he should realize that they are all the same. Republicans shouldn’t have gone along with that vote and raised taxes.

Comment by Law Man Thursday, Jul 18, 19 @ 10:59 pm