South Central Reporter

Republican lawmakers are ready to see justice for the 36 veterans who died last fall during the disastrous COVID-19 outbreak at the LaSalle Veterans' Home, a product of mismanagement that brought harsh criticism against the Pritzker administration and Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs (IDVA) leadership. 

State Rep. Blaine Wilhour (R-Effingham) spoke in a news conference on May 19, where he was another voice calling for action. 

"What we have seen here is a wholesale failure all the way around," Wilhour said. "From the IDVA, [Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs], and especially the  governor. They literally failed to act to protect our most vulnerable people and dozens of veterans are dead."

Republicans have advocated for a criminal probe into the administrative incompetence that caused the deaths since last year.

"I’m completely disgusted and almost at a lack of words about this," Wilhour continued. "It’s disgusting. When we look back at the past year plus, it’s not real surprising. This administration has stubbornly and steadfastly refused to employ any kind of targeted protection strategy and people have died."

The former IDVA director has since stepped down and the LaSalle administrator was fired, but lawmakers say it is not enough. Earlier this month, state Rep. Dan Swanson (R-Woodhull) called for hearings to be initiated immediately, especially since veteran home conditions were a centerpiece for Pritzker's campaign.

A damning inspector general report described the Pritzker administration's management of the outbreak as "inefficient, reactive and chaotic," according to Quincy Reporter. A cocktail of outdated or incomplete policies plus the former director's flippant, hands-off management during a public health crisis are to blame for the outbreak, the report said. 

"These families deserve better," Wilhour said. "They deserve full transparency on this and full  accountability on this. It’s the very least we can do at this point."