THE ILLINOIZE: Pritzker won't give Chapa LaVia vote of confidence...Many unanswered questions...Pritzker won't reduce restaurant mitigations until 2021...Davis and Pritzker war of words escalates...
December 18, 2020
I’m told you can still send a holiday card to a veteran at one (or all) of Illinois’ four veterans’ homes. Veterans in those facilities haven’t been able to see visitors since March, and our friends at the VFW say holiday cards would boost their spirits. Click this link to get the addresses to the four state homes.
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And, just a quick programming note, our final scheduled newsletter of 2020 is Tuesday, December 22. Obviously, we’ll put one together over the holiday if necessary (I always say if someone dies or gets arrested, which are both possible in Illinois politics.) The plan is to resume January 5.
IS CHAPA LaVIA’S JOB IN JEOPARDY?
Following the deaths of 33 veterans in a COVID-19 outbreak at the state-run LaSalle Veterans’ Home, Governor JB Pritzker Thursday stopped short of giving Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs Director Linda Chapa LaVia a vote of confidence.
The failure to promptly respond to the outbreak at the facility has caused immense frustration among lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, who say the administration “failed” in its response.
The home administrator has been fired, and Pritzker did not stand behind Chapa LaVia Thursday when asked if there should be more firings.
“We have an ongoing investigation to determine [that] and I want to hold anybody responsible and accountable that should be and that’s why this investigation is ongoing.”
We asked Pritzker if Chapa LaVia offered her resignation and he said she had not. Pritzker also declined to make Chapa LaVia available at one of COVID-19 news conferences saying she’s taken “tough questions” in two virtual legislative hearings.
TRANSPARENCY FRUSTRATIONS MOUNT
Chapa LaVia, her Chief of Staff, the acting administrator of the LaSalle home, and a contract physician for IDPH (more on him in a moment) testified at a House committee hearing Wednesday, and let’s just say lawmakers weren’t completely satisfied with the answers they got from the administration.
“Somebody give me an answer, please,” quipped Rep. Terra Costa-Howard (D-Glen Ellyn) at one point during the hearing.
Rep. Jeff Keicher (R-Sycamore) and Chapa LaVia had a testy exchange at one point during the hearing over who would take responsibility for the deaths at the home.
“When is someone going to own this? We all feel bad, we all are devastated at the loss of these 33 individuals. But I keep hearing dodges, I keep hearing explanations, I don’t hear ownership,” Keicher said. “We need to own this problem. If we’re gonna restore the faith of the veterans and the families in the state of Illinois in the institutions we provide to look at them in their end of days. When is somebody going to stand up and own that we made a mistake? Own what those mistakes were and right the ship going forward?”
Chapa LaVia responded the buck stops with her.
“Ultimately, I’m responsible for our veterans’ homes and our veterans’ well-being. It’s my job to make sure we’re doing everything we can to keep our heroes safe.”
IDPH declined to send staff citing an internal investigation. Dr. Avery Hart, the IDPH contractor, wasn’t brought on board until November 16, well after the outbreak at the home started.
That drew the ire of Rep. David Welter (R-Morris).
“It seems that IDPH has a problem showing up when needed. It’s a clear indication they’re covering up their inaction by refusing to participate in any legislative hearings. It’s shameful the Governor is allowing this to happen.”
Some outstanding questions were answered during Wednesday’s hearing.
IDVA Chief of Staff Tony Kolbeck says inadequate hand sanitizer had been purchased by the home administration.
Kolbeck said it was a “longstanding purchase that goes back a few years that they’ve been using that. It was the responsibility of those at the facility to ensure that they were following the guidelines for what product to use.”
Kolbeck says he requested the inspection of the facility from state and federal regulators that was conducted on November 12, after the outbreak had already spread throughout the home.
It still isn’t clear why inspectors weren’t brought in sooner.
We attempted to ask IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike about it at yesterday’s COVID-19 news conference, but the news conference was ended by the Governor’s Press Secretary, who isn’t interested in many of our questions anyway.
We’ll keep trying to find out what took so long to get inspectors in the facility.
Here’s our story on Wednesday’s hearing.
PRITZKER WON’T REDUCE RESTAURANT MITIGATIONS
We learned yesterday Governor JB Pritzker won’t reduce mitigations on regions of his “Restore Illinois” plan until after the holidays, even if those regions have already qualified to get lesser restrictions.
As luck would have it, three regions have met the state’s metrics to potentially open restaurants for limited indoor service again:
Region 1-northwest Illinois including Rockford, DeKalb, and Galena
Region 6- Champaign-Urbana, Charleston-Mattoon, Effingham, and down the Indiana line.
Region 9- suburban McHenry and Lake counties.
So, why not follow their own metrics?
“A couple of weeks ago, we basically stepped back from taking regions out of Tier 3 in hopes that we could bring the numbers down significantly across the state,” Pritzker said. “They’re coming down, not by enormous numbers, but they’re going the right direction, and we’re very hopeful things will continue in the right direction.”
In some downstate communities, restaurant owners have been fighting the Governor’s Executive Order, in some cases leading to court showdowns over whether or not they can remain open.
Mike Madigan of Urbana owns and operates Hickory River Smokehouse restaurants in Urbana, Decatur, Springfield, and Peoria. He is frustrated that the Governor put his own metrics aside.
“This just goes to show us all the Governor is more interested in control than "following the science" and standing by his own word about regional metrics for controlling the virus,” he said. “It is very disappointing that so many small businesses and their employees are having to endure this, especially during the holidays. But honestly, I didn't expect anything different. I've told lots of folks who were encouraged by Champaign County and surrounding counties' numbers that he will use holiday gatherings as his excuse for continuing this shutdown, which is killing our economy into next year. And now he has.”
DON’T MAKE ME STOP THIS CAR
Governor JB Pritzker and Congressman Rodney Davis (R-Taylorville) are in a little war of words thanks to some Twitter sniping. They’re arguing about something trivial, right? Like how Davis likes the Illini and Pritzker is a Duke guy?
No. Let’s fight over unemployment issues.
Give me a break.
It started when Davis posted a video Tuesday that he had been a victim of unemployment fraud. The official account of the Illinois Department of Employment Security shot back.
“While we have your attention, you’re also in a position to stand up for millions of families who are struggling. Without congressional action, 447,500 claimants in Illinois may lose benefits after the week ending Dec 26. Only the fed gov (sic) can produce the kind of stimulus we need.”
Pritzker was asked about the incident Thursday.
“What I know is that the Congressman has been sniping without helping,” Pritzker said.
Davis, of course, tweeted that he was helping.
“I’ve supported expanded UI benefits at the federal level to help workers hurt by your policies,” he or a staff member wrote. “I also supported a $42M appropriation for IDES to train and recruit new staff to process claims in a timely manner. Where has that $ gone?”
Maybe instead of fighting on Twitter like two kids in the back seat of a station wagon on a cross-country road trip, Governor Pritzker and Congressman Davis can get on the phone to find middle ground to actually help people impacted by this pandemic.
Don’t you make me stop this car, boys.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Happy Birthday today to former Rep. Dan Burke and my old friend Senator Chapin Rose, who turns 47 today. He’s one of the smartest and funniest guys you’ll find in government. Not to mention one of the most perpetually disheveled.
BEFORE WE GO…
There are just a few days left to donate to our Salvation Army Online Red Kettle to help those struggling during this tough time. Here’s the link if you can give $5, $10, $25, or more.
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Have a wonderful weekend.