Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Rauner’s State of the State guest from Quincy veterans’ home dies

Posted in:

Illinois
Updated Posts

An Air Force veteran and former resident of the Quincy veterans home who was a guest of Gov. Rauner at his State of the State speech has died.

Ivan Jackson was one of two residents Rauner invited to his Jan. 31 speech at the Capitol. Jackson and the governor met when Rauner spent a week at the state-run veterans home to meet with staff, learn about operations and spend time with residents.

Soon after the speech, Jackson was diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease, one of three new cases at the Quincy home.

“U.S. Air Force veteran Ivan Jackson was a man of rare quality,” Rauner tweeted Monday. “Husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, his service will be remembered, his memory cherished … forever. Rest in honor, my friend.”

* WBEZ…

Rauner’s administration said it had no evidence Jackson’s death was caused by Legionnaires’, and the coroner in St. Louis County, Missouri, where he died, wasn’t immediately available. But Jackson’s daughter said Legionnaires’ likely was a contributing factor along with other serious underlying illnesses.

“I can’t tell you that it was a reason he passed, but I can tell you it didn’t help in his ongoing health issues,” Allyson Springer told WBEZ Monday afternoon. […]

Springer said her father was hospitalized with pneumonia on February 9, less than two weeks after Rauner feted Jackson at his State of the State address. Rauner met the veteran during a weeklong stay at the facility in January, a visit designed to show the home was safe.

After being admitted to the hospital, Springer said her father had a heart attack. A few days later, the family learned he had tested positive for Legionnaires’. After his heart attack, Springer said Jackson suffered a stroke.

Prior to his illness, she said he had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and was outfitted with both a pacemaker and defibrillator.

…Adding… Pritzker campaign with a related angle…

Weeks before the budget crisis began, Bruce Rauner announced the cuts his impending crisis would force on state programs, including halting construction of the Chicago Veterans’ Home.

The 195-bed facility was originally slated to open in mid-2016, but now it’s been delayed by over three years. Rauner also suspended capital projects, delayed payments to state vendors, and suspended funding for addiction and bullying prevention, firefighter training, immigrant integration services, and welcoming centers.

“Critical programs that help Illinoisans build better lives became casualties of Bruce Rauner’s failed leadership months into him being sworn in,” said Pritzker campaign spokeswoman Jordan Abudayyeh. “This failed governor halted construction on a Veterans’ home in Chicago — and then fatally mismanaged one in Quincy — in a desperate and cruel attempt to force his political agenda on our state.”

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jun 12, 18 @ 9:50 am

Comments

When it comes to his costumes, the way he talks and acts the phonies is annoying but mostly comical. When it comes to this topic it angers me beyond belief.

Comment by Concerned Dem Tuesday, Jun 12, 18 @ 10:04 am
Can anyone from Quincy offer input? I was told that the municipal water system in Quincy is less than satisfactory. Is this accurate?

Comment by Downstate Tuesday, Jun 12, 18 @ 10:07 am
From Catholic Cardinals to Air Force Veterans, Rauner will lie to there face. The fact that Rauner can call Mr. Jackson his “friend” after he straight up lied to him by promising Quincy was safe is beyond insulting. I hope JB hammers Bruce on this so everyone knows how badly Rauner failed our veterans.

Rest in Peace Mr. Jackson, you deserved better.

Comment by ItsMillerTime Tuesday, Jun 12, 18 @ 10:16 am
===Rauner’s administration said it had no evidence Jackson’s death was caused by Legionnaires’, and the coroner in St. Louis County, Missouri, where he died, wasn’t immediately available. ==

That is cold, crass, and unfeeling beyond belief. Why would i expect anything more from someone who can say “these things happen.”

Comment by Langhorne Tuesday, Jun 12, 18 @ 10:33 am
Why would the Rauner people chime in about the cause of death when there’s no coroner’s report? And even then, jeez. They say this isn’t political to them but everything they do stinks of politics when it comes to Quincy.

Comment by Albany Park Patriot Tuesday, Jun 12, 18 @ 11:34 am
My sincere condolences to the Jackson family at this terrible time.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jun 12, 18 @ 12:43 pm
A 195 bed Veteran home for a metro area of 9.9 million people (and new water pipes) is not too much to ask.

Comment by Da Big Bad Wolfda11 Tuesday, Jun 12, 18 @ 12:50 pm
Terrible news for the Rauner campaign. Even worse news for his family. Too bad the only concern for the Rauner campaign is their campaign not this veteran.

Comment by Frank talks Tuesday, Jun 12, 18 @ 12:54 pm
He *tweeted* his condolence message. Tweeted it.

Words don’t fail me, but Rich would ban me.

Comment by Cheryl44 Tuesday, Jun 12, 18 @ 1:20 pm
May you Rest in Peace Mr. Jackson. Thank you for your service.

Comment by Flynn's Mom Tuesday, Jun 12, 18 @ 1:42 pm
Would Rauner’s fatal mismanagement of the Quincy veterans home qualify him for death penalty under his capital punishment proposal? Pretty much a mass murder.

Comment by Precinct Captain Tuesday, Jun 12, 18 @ 2:00 pm
Actual humans are such unreliable political props.

– MrJM

Comment by @misterjayem Tuesday, Jun 12, 18 @ 2:01 pm
Rauner deserves defeat and ignominy, on the basis of this act of fatal negligence alone.

Comment by IllinoisBoi Tuesday, Jun 12, 18 @ 2:21 pm