After 36 veterans died in LaSalle home at the hands of state government, Pritzker administration forgets to sign veteran protection bill

Governor JB Pritzker reportedly failed to take action on a bill that unanimously passed the Illinois General Assembly aimed at protecting veterans by providing a new avenue for those who served, and their allies, to file complaints about the state’s Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

The Chicago Tribune reports: “The Democratic governor, whose reelection campaign this year will face tough questions over his administration’s handling of a deadly 2020 coronavirus outbreak at a state-run veterans home in LaSalle, did not sign or veto the proposal within 60 days after it reached his desk, meaning it automatically becomes law.”

Rank incompetence led to the avoidable deaths of dozens of brave veterans trapped at the LaSalle Veterans’ Home. Those veterans received inadequate care and were forgotten by our state’s highest government official. Despite tragic mistakes made by the Pritzker administration, which were uncovered and outlined in an explosive and damning IG report, Governor Pritzker once again forgot about the lives of our nation’s heroes this week.

Capitol Fax publisher Rich Miller summed it up best when he said, “the last time I remember this sort of bungle happening was under Rod Blagojevich.”

“Why does JB Pritzker show such blatant disregard for the lives of veterans? After the tragedy at LaSalle, all veterans wanted was a proper way to voice their concerns about a state agency that made deadly mistakes – and JB Pritzker couldn’t even find the time to sign the bill. That’s shameful,” said ILGOP Chairman Don Tracy.

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