Will County Gazette

Orland Park Trustee Carole Griffin Ruzich doesn’t think there is any way state Rep. Stephanie Kifowit (D-Aurora) can explain away her most recent rant on the House floor.

“I believe comments such as these are inexcusable in political debate,” Ruzich told the Will County Gazette about comments Kifowit directed at state Rep. Peter Breen (R-Lombard).

Carole Griffin Ruzich

Kifowit later apologized for controversial remarks she made against Breen and his family during a debate on how best to deal with fallout over a deadly outbreak of Legionnaires disease at a state-run veterans home in Quincy played out in public view.

“We, as elected leaders, should set the example to be able to debate honestly, with respect,” Ruzich added. “This is not the norm but unfortunately it seems to occur more frequently.”

Kifowit, a retired Marine veteran, blasted Breen on the House floor after he took exception with some of the particulars of a bill that would raise the amount of eligible damages to up to $2 million for families impacted by the deadly Legionnaires episode in Quincy.

“To the representative from Lombard, I would like to make him a broth of legionella and pump it into the water system of his loved ones so that they can be infected, they can be mistreated, they can sit and suffer by getting aspirin instead of being properly treated and ultimately die. We are talking about talking our nation's heroes. We are talking World War II veterans that survived combat, survived war, survived unthinkable situations that they were put in to sit back put their faith and trust in the state of Illinois and have that completely, unabashedly disregarded,” Kifowit said after Breen had spoken. 

The Chicago Tribune reported Kifowit later claimed her remarks were “misinterpreted and mischaracterized.”

Ruzich joins a growing number of GOP lawmakers not buying Kifowit's argument.

"Today, Illinois Democrats sunk to a new low, when Democratic State Rep. Stephanie Kifowit wished death upon family members/loved ones of her Republican colleague State Rep. Peter Breen. Kifowit should be ashamed of her remarks. Since Rep. Kifowit has refused to apologize to Rep. Breen, she should resign from office, as these remarks are unfit for someone serving public office,” Illinois Republican Party Chairman Tim Schneider said in a press release.

Fourteen people died following the outbreak and nearly 70 others became ill.