A report from Illinois’ Auditor General was released detailing how Governor JB Pritzker and his administration failed to act in mitigating a COVID outbreak at the state-run LaSalle Veterans Home that tragically took the life of 36 veterans.
State Representative Dan Swanson, a retired Lieutenant Colonel with the Illinois Army National Guard, and the Republican Spokesperson for the Veterans Committee, pointed out that our military personnel deserve nothing less than our gratitude, thanks and competent care when they come home from service to our nation. In this case, that included at the very least, following agency prescribed protocols for monitoring, isolation, testing, and timely treatment to defend against a fast spreading disease, illness and death.
“This report confirmed what we have known for over a year and that is that the Governor and his administration did not take the health and safety of our own Illinois heroes seriously which resulted in 36 deaths,” declared Rep. Dan Swanson, himself a veteran and the ranking Republican on the Veterans Affairs Committee. “At the very least, the Governor owes an apology to their families and all veterans for his failure.”
On January 18, 2019, Governor Pritzker issued an executive order promising to protect veterans, but between November 7, 2020 and January 1, 2021, nearly two years later, 36 residents at the LaSalle Veterans’ Home died. Their families trusted Governor Pritzker and his administration to care for their veteran, but they were let down by this Governor and his poor administration.”