Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Rauner’s office responds to flood waters questions

Posted in:

Illinois

* The Governor’s Office responded last night to my question about what information the Governor relied on when he said earlier this week the Legionnaire’s outbreak in Quincy was at least in part caused by flood waters and storms in 2015…

There has never been any attempt to lay blame. Rather, the Rauner Administration is exploring working theories on the cause, the persistence, and most importantly the remedy. We partnered with the CDC and took immediate action to remediate and improve water quality at the Quincy Veterans Home in 2015 and continue to take steps to ensure our heroes and our staff are safe.

As the CDC indicated to us and to WBEZ, multiple studies conclude there is a correlation between “an increased risk of Legionnaires’ disease with increased rainfall (including this CDC article and this one).”

On July 13, 2015, there was a severe storm in Quincy, Illinois, just over a week before the first resident at the IVHQ began experiencing symptoms. There were also five community cases that summer in individuals who had no clear connection to the veteran’s home. While the CDC has not confirmed that this weather event was the direct cause of the Legionnaires outbreak, it is reasonable to believe the weather could have been a contributing factor.

We have partnered with the CDC and continue to consult with numerous experts to enhance the water quality at the Quincy Veterans Home and understand what may compromise the system. Gaining a comprehensive understanding helps all of us move forward to ensure continued safety at the home. This is one of the primary reasons why we have partnered with the city of Quincy to build an alternate water source and switch to a groundwater system that will result in cleaner water with fewer bacterial and chemical variations. We are excited about the recent purchase of the Sycamore nursing home and look forward to building a world class facility where all veterans will continue to receive exceptional care.

* The Pritzker campaign has been citing the WBEZ story in their latest round of “failed Governor” hits. The latest of which came this morning…

“From the weather to Veterans themselves, Bruce Rauner is willing to blame anyone but himself for the Legionnaires’ crisis he let spiral out of control,” said Pritzker campaign spokeswoman Jordan Abudayyeh. “Thirteen Veterans and spouses died on this failed governor’s watch, but instead of taking responsibility and acting swiftly to protect our heroes, Rauner is busy wiping his hands of responsibility.”

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Jun 15, 18 @ 10:44 am

Comments

==There has never been any attempt to lay blame.==

I stopped reading after the first li(n)e.

Dave McKinney, Tony Arnold
May 1, 2018
The day after WBEZ first reported on the stories of grieving families with loved ones who died from Legionnaires’ disease at the Quincy veterans’ home, a top aide in Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner’s office had an idea: Could they tie the outbreaks to the previous administration?

Comment by Henry Francis Friday, Jun 15, 18 @ 10:51 am
===There has never been any attempt to lay blame. Rather, the Rauner Administration is exploring working theories on the cause, the persistence, and most importantly the remedy===

Lotta words follow this supposed straight forward premise.

Here’s the thing….

Rauner’s Administration knew of the dangers. Darlene Senger suggested the blame to be placed on a wounded combat veteran nowhere near the outbreak, and when Rauner himself says everything was done quickly and timely, emails more concerned about spin and politics instead of the veterans themselves say so much more.

“We made a mistake. We needed to do better. We are sorry”.

Nope.

Rauner is far more concerned with past weather reports and blaming Mother Nature, not unlike a shifty insurance broker that sells polices, but won’t pay on them… “act of God”… not their fault.

The Rauner Administration is accountable for the Quincy tragedy.

Like those very telling emails… it was about Bruce Rauner… not about the safety and well being of veterans staying there… until…

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jun 15, 18 @ 10:52 am
How cool is this. My lsat prep is paying off. Rauner just committed the correlation/causation logic flaw.
Hoffman must not be in charge anymore. I don’t think a former Marine officer and six sigma blackbelt would authorize the use of such a flimsy excuse for failure. ( yes, I get that I just used an ad hominem or personal logic flaw. But it does make me wonder if Hoffman is still around. This doesn’t seem like him. )

Comment by Honeybear Friday, Jun 15, 18 @ 10:56 am
And yes, I am concern trolling Mike Hoffman. He can take it for 20,000 a month.

What value Illinois gets for 20k a month

Storms…….wow

Comment by Honeybear Friday, Jun 15, 18 @ 11:00 am
Let’s think about this.

— On July 13, 2015, there was a severe storm in Quincy, Illinois, just over a week before the first resident at the IVHQ began experiencing symptoms. –

That storm water and the stuff it stirred up would have been well on its way to the Gulf a week later, when the outbreak occurred. It’s not like the residents were outside drinking straight from the river.

If there’s some science and information to actually back up this theory, the Rauner admin might want to try leading with facts. This seems like they’re pulling it out of somewhere that I’m sure is a banned word.

Comment by Leigh John-Ella Friday, Jun 15, 18 @ 11:47 am
==Exploring working theories==

Better be someone elses theory, because every one of Rauners’ have failed.

Comment by Generic Drone Friday, Jun 15, 18 @ 11:50 am
Trump-style nonsense from the Rauner administration.

Comment by Precinct Captain Friday, Jun 15, 18 @ 12:08 pm
Uh huh, uh huh, yeah.

So again, about the storms and floods that didn’t happen that the governor blames the Quincy issue on, where did that come from?

Sweden?

Comment by JS Mill Friday, Jun 15, 18 @ 12:19 pm
“….the Rauner Administration is exploring working theories on the cause, the persistence, and most importantly the remedy.”

The cause of this attempt to shift ownership is caused by a self-proclaimed persistent rascal in occupying the Governor’s office. There is a remedy in November.

Comment by Anon221 Friday, Jun 15, 18 @ 12:21 pm
“My lsat prep is paying off.”

SAVE YOURSELF

DON’T DO IT

– MrJM

Comment by @misterjayem Friday, Jun 15, 18 @ 12:43 pm
I’m sure the governor’s office was flooded with calls. He’ll have to weather this.

Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Friday, Jun 15, 18 @ 12:55 pm
Misterjayem- you’re one of many to say that. Why?

Comment by Honeybear Friday, Jun 15, 18 @ 1:05 pm
“caused by flood waters and storms in 2015…”
Somebody let their finger walk through that Google to provide cover for 1.4%.

Comment by Huh? Friday, Jun 15, 18 @ 1:16 pm
Start testing the rainwater statewide for public safety

Comment by Rabid Friday, Jun 15, 18 @ 1:56 pm
Honeybear - Even through the economic recovery there continues to be a surplus of attorneys. It will vary depending on the field of practice but a law degree by no means provides the employment assurance it once did. Many attorneys these days are either chronically underemployed or chronically overworked. And depending on your age and remaining work life you may never earn enough to offset the cost of obtaining the degree. Of course law schools don’t tell you this.

Comment by Pundent Friday, Jun 15, 18 @ 2:05 pm