By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – Four weeks before the election – and two days before the final candidates’ debate in Quincy – Illinois Democrats and veterans are reminding the public about the Legionnaires’ disease outbreak at the state veterans’ home in Quincy. It’s blamed for fourteen deaths, and the group standing outside the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs office in Springfield Tuesday said Gov. Rauner is to blame for much of the fallout.

While Rauner, speaking to a newspaper editorial board earlier in the day, maintains his administration did all possible, and in a timely fashion, the group holding a news conference Tuesday said Rauner uses veterans as campaign props and puts public relations over people, going so far as, through then-legislative affairs director Darlene Senger, to suggest the administration “tie it back to” war-wounded Tammy Duckworth, a former state veterans’ affairs chief turned U.S. senator.

“We served our country, and someday we will ask for a little help,” said Jim Dixon, a 71-year-old Vietnam vet from Springfield. “We all deserve what we worked hard for. We fulfilled our promise to our country, and Bruce Rauner doesn’t want to fulfill that promise.”

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected].