THE ILLINOIZE: Walgreens and CVS defend vaccination pace...GOP Senators grumpy with Ezike...Milhiser resigns, Lausch next?...Spain to HRO...Happy 212th, Mr. Lincoln!

February 12, 2021

IOn a mild morning 212 years ago today, a little boy was born in a one-room log cabin outside of Hodgenville, Kentucky. The little boy, born to Thomas and Nancy Lincoln didn’t like work on the frontier. He taught himself the law and, well, you know the rest.

Today, Hodgenville is about an hour south of Louisville where you’ll find the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park. It has a replica of the log cabin Lincoln was born in, which isn’t any bigger than your guest bedroom. It’s dark and cramped, and it’s impossible to imagine how two parents, Abe’s older sister, the midwife, and two aunts all fit into the place on that, ahem, personal occasion.

At a time when our politicians are known more for the fights they start than the words they use to try to patch our nation together, maybe we can all use today to reflect on some of Lincoln’s words and actions.

By the way, it’s a state holiday, so most state government offices are closed.

Happy Birthday, Mr. President.

Let’s get to it.

WALGREENS AND CVS ON DEFENSE

On the “tough” scale from pillow fight to heavyweight clash, Walgreens and CVS officials took a few goose feathers to the noggin’ yesterday when testifying before the Senate Health committee.

While Walgreens and CVS have been criticized for a slow vaccination rollout, especially for the nursing homes and assisted living centers they were contracted by the federal government to serve, the Senate Health Committee did not throw many haymakers at the two companies Thursday.

Joel Baise, Senior Director for State and Local Government Relations for Walgreens says the company was contracted by the federal government to vaccinate residents at 310 skilled nursing facilities and 615 assisted living homes around the state.

“Our focus right now is completing all of the facilities that chose to partner with Walgreens,” Baise said. “It is important to remember that the state of Illinois activated its long term care program on December 28. Walgreens received our assigned long term care facility partners in late November, and we spent the month reaching out to facilities helping them to prepare for our arrival. Walgreens completed our first dose in all skilled nursing facilities that were assigned to us on or around January 21st, four days ahead of the goal that was set by the state.”

Baise says the company’s contract with the CDC prioritized skilled nursing facilities before assisted living. He said the company hopes to have all first shots done at assisted living facilities by February 15. Skilled nursing home residents are currently receiving their second dose of the vaccine.

CVS Health Director of State Government Affairs Larry Lewis says 817 long term care facilities were part of the company’s contract in Illinois. He says the company finished first doses at skilled nursing facilities on January 25. He says the company is 90% of the way through second doses at skilled nursing facilities.

Here’s our writeup on comments from both companies yesterday.

SOME SENATE REPUBLICANS UNHAPPY WITH EZIKE

“It will be months for some people who aren’t eligible by the time they actually get the vaccine,” IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said. “I know that’s a very difficult message to [hear], but, unfortunately, until we have much more vaccine, as the production is ramped up, that is the situation we find ourselves in at this point. “

That’s literally the last line of my story about the Senate Health Committee hearing on the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.

So, clearly, it doesn’t instill a lot of confidence.

But it seems nobody is happy with Ezike or IDPH.

Republicans took shots at Ezike for appearing before the committee for just 15 minutes. Local public health officials are venting over the rollout and distribution of the vaccine.

Look, Ezike is stuck between a rock and a hard place here. Outside of Governor Pritzker, there has been no administration official more closely tied to the state’s response to the pandemic than her. She seems to be a quality scientist and has a great understanding of the medical part of what’s happening.

But, in a pandemic when you’re getting questioned by the General Assembly over a controversial response band slow vaccine rollout, you can’t just say “sorry, I only have 15 minutes before a ‘hard stop.’

Republicans have been critical of the Governor’s “go-it-alone” approach to the state’s response, and ignoring the legislative branch when you know the members of the committee have long and detailed lists of questions is terrible public relations. It just invites the “what is she hiding?” headlines.

Transparency is a good thing. Own the response. You’re in it now, guys.

ALSO: In case you missed it, Senators were mostly sympathetic with challenges facing the Illinois Department of Employment Security.

SPRINGFIELD U.S. ATTORNEY RESIGNS

John Milhiser, the former Sangamon County State’s Attorney who became U.S. Attorney for the Central District of Illinois in 2019, announced his resignation yesterday.

Republicans were upset with the Biden administration when reports came out that the new President would terminate Milhiser and Chicago U.S. Attorney John Lausch, both Trump appointees. The issue was less about Trump and more about Lausch’s investigation into now former House Speaker Michael Madigan.

A former federal prosecutor and white collar crime expert said in November that even if Biden replaced Lausch, the investigation into Madigan would continue under a new U.S. Attorney.

Milhiser, by the way, has just indicted former GOP State Senator Sam McCann.

Who might replace Milhiser?

SOME NAMES TO WATCH- Champaign County State’s Attorney Julia Rietz (Disclosure: I’ve done campaign work for her in the past) would be my guess as the first name on Sen. Dick Durbin’s list. (Illinois’ senators will recommend a candidate to the Biden administration.) It doesn’t seem like a job she’d be interested in, though. She was just unopposed for her fifth term, so she certainly likes the job she’s in.

Sen. Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) would likely take the job if offered, I assume. Not sure he’d be lobbying for the job, though.

Rock Island County State’s Attorney Dora Villarreal Nieman- her parents immigrated from Mexico, which would go along with the diversity mantra of the Biden Administration. She also has allies in Rock Island County Sheriff Gerry Bustos and his wife, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos.

It’s also possible it’s someone tight inside the USA crowd, either a former Assistant U.S. Attorney or possibly a Deputy Attorney General based in Springfield. It’s hard to tell, but we’ll let you know what we hear.

HRO

House Republicans have named Rep. Ryan Spain (R-Peoria) as chairman of the House Republican Organization, the House GOP campaign arm. He’s a young, charismatic, likeable guy, and I am told the GOP has high hopes he can help with candidate recruitment to help chip away at the Democrat supermajority in 2022.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Abraham Lincoln.

Madigan ally, former State Representative, former Cook County Assessor, Dem Chairman, and Erie Cafe enthusiast Joe Berrios celebrates Sunday.

Former State Representative Phil Novak has a birthday Monday.

THE STUFF i ALWAYS TELL YOU

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