UPDATED: Pritzker, Lawmakers React to LaSalle Report
Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) has been critical of the Pritzker administration’s handling of the deadly COVID-19 outbreak says the administration “failed” residents and their families.
Multiple lawmakers have responded to the Inspector General report on the LaSalle Veterans’ Home.
Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris):
“The veterans who died as well as many of the family members who were directly impacted by the deadliest outbreak at a state facility in Illinois are my constituents. While I am still reviewing the OIG report in detail, it’s clear that the Administration has failed these individuals.
“The report reveals a lack of direction from the Governor’s office and department directors. One notable failure is the fact that the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs didn’t learn from previous outbreaks at facilities and did not implement recommendations that could have helped prevent this tragedy. The lack of action by the department is the reason why I filed legislation in February that would require the state to implement the findings of the Quincy Veterans’ Home Audit.
“The Illinois General Assembly must hold legislative hearings to discuss the findings of today’s report and we must pass legislation that ensures that we implement potential lifesaving policies.”
Rep. Stephanie Kifowit (D-Oswego), Chair of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee:
“As an Honorably discharged Veteran of the US Marine Corps, I am beyond disgusted by the findings in this report. It confirms the suspicions of not only myself, but other members of the committee, of the failure in leadership of the IL Department of Veterans Affairs that we witnessed in over four hours of hearings that were held in 2020.
“Throughout the outbreak at the LaSalle Veterans Home, dedicated staff were reaching out to me directly with serious concerns and fear for the safety of our decorated Veterans who trust Illinois with their welfare. The genuine care of the rank-and-file staff was always shown to me of their devotion and sincerity for our Veterans, but the lack of protocols, leadership and structure on the department level let down our Veterans and the staff that care for them.”
House Republicans have planned a Friday afternoon news conference on the topic. Rep. Lance Yednock (D-Ottawa), who represents LaSalle, told us by phone he was still reviewing the report and would issue a statement.
Governor JB Pritzker has yet to make a statement on the report.
UPDATE (12:36 P.M.):
Governor JB Pritzker, speaking in the Metro East this afternoon:
"Nothing is more devastating to me than knowing that 36 of our veterans, our heroes, died of COVID in a single Veterans' Home."
"I have to admit that if I knew then what I know now, I would not have hired her." Referring to former IDVA Director Linda Chapa LaVia.
“What I know is that there were failures here that were, really, talked about in this report. The report, in many ways, speaks for itself. There were challenges of communication, there were challenges of people not following the protocols that were laid out for them. There were challenges of leadership not providing some of those protocols, and so on. We’ve been working very hard to address those literally since the challenges occurred with COVID-19 running through the LaSalle Veterans’ Home.“
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UPDATE (1:57 P.M.):
House Republican Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) and House Republicans held a news conference on the release of the report.
“Governor Pritzker and his administration failed to lead and failed our veterans. All of this was avoidable. There has to be more accountability. There has to be accountability for the loss of 36 of our valued heroes who were [at] this home. The Governor needs to accept responsibility for what happened here.”
Durkin says he believes there should be criminal charges.
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UPDATE (4:01 P.M.):
Statement from Rep. Lance Yednock (D-Ottawa), who represents LaSalle:
After reviewing this report, my heart breaks again for the families who lost loved ones. I feel their pain and share their anger. It’s clear that a failure of proper leadership combined with a series of preventable errors and sheer carelessness led to an unacceptable tragedy.”
"While this report sheds more light on how this tragedy happened, we owe it to those lost and their loved ones to do everything possible to ensure that nothing like it ever occurs again. This starts with putting the proper safeguards and plans in place for all veterans’ homes and ensuring those that failed to take action are held responsible."
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