Governor JB Pritzker is taking lots of heat from Republicans after a new law establishing a veterans’ accountability unit became law without his signature.
The measure was passed after the deaths of multiple veterans in Illinois veterans homes in recent years… from causes ranging from a Legionnaire’s Disease outbreak at the home in Quincy to the toll of COVID-19 at the home in LaSalle. The bill became law automatically 60 days after passage when Pritzker failed to take any action on it. But Republicans say the lack of action from the governor is indicative of a lack of concern or action to address the needs of veterans in state facilities.
Pritzker’s office says a planned bill signing announcement had to be delayed because of COVID, and blamed the failure to act before the deadline on a “miscommunication.”
