Rauner Holds Press Conference to Announce “Options” At Quincy – While Decrying Politics Just 5 Days Before Primary

Two-and-a-half years after a Legionnaires’ outbreak killed 12 at the state-run Quincy Veterans’ Home, Governor Bruce Rauner held a press conference today to announce new “options” to keep the residents safe. At his press conference, which came just five days before his primary, Rauner said it was inappropriate to play “political football” with the veterans’ home.
What did Rauner announce? According to an administration press release, the state sent out a request for bids to “to explore building a new state-of-the-art facility on the Quincy campus.” The release also said the state “intends” to buy a vacant nearby building, but Rauner clarified his own administration’s release to say that was only an “option” along with possibility of building modular homes.
To top it off, Rauner battled the “false narrative” his administration was taking too long on finding solutions at the Quincy Home. Four more people have fallen ill this year, and last year’s outbreak killed one.
“Bruce Rauner’s press conference today was a thinly veiled attempt to distract from his lack of leadership,” said DGA Illinois Communications Director Sam Salustro. “And was a perfect metaphor for the way his staff has mishandled the Legionnaires’ outbreak at Quincy. Thirteen people have died at Quincy, and Rauner’s administration has been more focused on covering for themselves than fixing the problem.”

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