Duckworth wants coronavirus aid package to help local governments

Posted on August 26, 2020
U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.). (WJBC file photo)

 

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – The U.S. senator who once led the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs is taking measure of how things are going with coronavirus around the state.

“It turns out they have been doing well there,” U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) said of the Danville VA facility on a call with central Illinois reporters. “The cases are a fairly low number, and they were even able to send nurses to North Chicago, a facility which is seeing a real influx of patients.

“They are handling the situation.”

One situation Duckworth wishes would improve is progress on a fourth coronavirus aid package, one which would help municipal and county governments. She said she had talked with the mayor of Kankakee about infrastructure needs and was scheduled to speak with the mayor of Peoria about cuts to public safety. Duckworth said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) would not even participate in negotiations, “which does not bode well for the package,” she said.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]

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