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* Greg Bishop at the Center Square…
The first week of COVID-19 saliva testing for Illinois state Senators, staff members and journalists covering the proceedings cost taxpayers nearly $21,000.
Earlier this month, the office of Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, said anyone entering the Capitol building or media areas not controlled by the Senate won’t have to show test results, but would need to show a negative COVID-19 test before entering the Senate chambers, committee rooms or Senators’ offices.
Members of the media were initially told to pay the bill for their tests, but that was later retracted and the cost was put on the taxpayers’ tab.
The Senate returned for an in-person session last week. Harmon’s office said 698 tests were performed at a cost of $30 per test for a total of $20,940. They’re also in this week with another round of testing.
“In order to make sure lawmakers, staff and their families are as safe as they can be during the ongoing pandemic, the Senate is working with the University of Illinois to regularly test everyone entering Senate offices, chambers and committee rooms,” Harmon’s office wrote earlier this month.
The Senate is using the University of Illinois-developed saliva testing program it calls SHIELD.
That weekly tab will likely double when the Senate begins to meet three days per week. We get tested on Monday for Tuesday and Wednesday session days, but must be re-tested on Wednesday for any Thursday sessions. Last week, they adjourned on Wednesday and the chamber will do so again later today.
Also, for the record, while I didn’t like it, I wasn’t opposed to paying my own way. Some other media outlets, however, raised a big stink about the cost.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Mar 17, 21 @ 4:57 am
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==Some other media outlets, however, raised a big stink about the cost.==
I’m sure one of those media outlets complaining was Sinclair and Channel 20. Despite that conglamerate being flush with cash.
Comment by EssentialStateEmployeeFromChatham Wednesday, Mar 17, 21 @ 5:31 am
Didn’t like the idea of journalist/ companies having to pay to attend.
In a day when papers have cut staff to the bone I don’t see how they would choose to pay for testing.
Comment by Cool Papa Bell Wednesday, Mar 17, 21 @ 7:35 am
Let’s put that cost into perspective - the suburban Chicago school district where I work does weekly saliva testing for all in-person students, faculty in staff. They routinely process 4,000+ tests per week at a cost of over $40,000 (per WEEK). With 9 weeks remaining in the school year, we’re looking at an additional ~$400K just for testing.
Looking at the per test cost for the IL Senate, it appears our school district scored a much better rate. I would think UofI might give a discount to the State…
Comment by DuPage Teacher Wednesday, Mar 17, 21 @ 7:56 am
==Didn’t like the idea of journalist/ companies having to pay to attend.==
Doesn’t surprise me, it’s one of the traditional Illinois sports, “pay to play.”
Comment by EssentialStateEmployeeFromChatham Wednesday, Mar 17, 21 @ 8:03 am
Someone please find me a fainting bench for this rounding error of a budget item.
Comment by North Park Wednesday, Mar 17, 21 @ 8:14 am
=Someone please find me a fainting bench for this rounding error of a budget item.=
Maybe about 15 people could offer to donate their entire federal stimulus payments to the state to offset the test costs.
Comment by EssentialStateEmployeeFromChatham Wednesday, Mar 17, 21 @ 8:20 am
Story about spitting in the ocean of IL debt; hilarious
Comment by Unessential Unemployed Wednesday, Mar 17, 21 @ 8:51 am
This testing protocol is complete overkill. You can walk into any medical office it the state and they ask you questions on how you feel to rule out any potential COVID symptoms and then they take your temperature to verify. They already have this issue down. If everyone is masking the transmission rate is extraordinarily low.
Comment by Nadigam Wednesday, Mar 17, 21 @ 8:54 am
Im pretty “meh” on the whole thing. Like always, all the little petty ways conservatives scream “taxpayer money” to imply waste is just sad, but on the other I don’t really see a NEED for the government to pay for reporters to do their job. The government doesn’t pay for reporter’s other necessities, and the testing rule isn’t arbitrary or meaningless.
Comment by Perrid Wednesday, Mar 17, 21 @ 9:06 am
Sample of the future and those who oppose vaccines will be sent to an island. Yep coming to a theatre near you.
Comment by Yep Wednesday, Mar 17, 21 @ 9:19 am
It’s a cost of doing business and the media is no different than other businesses. The responses I see above are typical and show why this state is a financial mess. Oh, it’s only $20,940. A week. It’s a rounding error. It’s a cost that can and should be avoided and if the Senate wants to put this requirement in place and the media wants to cover these sessions they should buck up and pay the freight.
Comment by Out of Illinois Wednesday, Mar 17, 21 @ 9:19 am
=== Some other media outlets, however, raised a big stink about the cost. ===
Amy?
Comment by PublicServant Wednesday, Mar 17, 21 @ 9:41 am
There is an argument for the State paying for the media member’s tests as a function of the public’s right to know. But Sinclair et al. whining about cost is also disingenuous when they order staff to attend. The test costs for non-corporate media should also be deductible as a trade/professional expense on tax returns as well (hope that helps).
As to Yep at 9:19 am “Those who oppose vaccines will be sent to an island”, well, maybe those who believe and spread lies about vaccines and disease should be isolated. 500,000+ Dead. But hey, free to spread lies and disease because “rights”? Oh wait, none of that happened (DeVore, Bailey, et al.).
Comment by thisjustinagain Wednesday, Mar 17, 21 @ 9:42 am
The media should pay for this. Cost of doing business. Too many people dump stuff like this on the taxpayers. A little bit here and there and it’s just another indication why this state is in the financial condition it is in.
Comment by Out of Illinois Wednesday, Mar 17, 21 @ 10:44 am
I don’t mind public money paying for testing, as I think testing is critical to stopping the spread of covid, along with masks and vaccines. What disappoints me is that at this point in the game testing should be much cheaper and more readily available for home testing.
Comment by Groucho Wednesday, Mar 17, 21 @ 11:03 am
Nadigm,
A full 50% of people infected with COVID never have a single symptom. That is why this virus is so contagious and thus deadly. Please try to keep up.
Comment by Gruntled University Employee Wednesday, Mar 17, 21 @ 2:46 pm
The state is receiving a very large chunk of money from the Feds to increase testing statewide. Guessing a portion could be used for this?
Comment by Frank talks Wednesday, Mar 17, 21 @ 3:54 pm
And staff members have been subject to mandatory testing since the week of Feb 22nd. So? If it helps make sure that we’re safe in our place of work, so be it. Until all staff and members are able to receive vaccines, this is a cost of doing business.
Comment by UtD Wednesday, Mar 17, 21 @ 4:32 pm
==And staff members have been subject to mandatory testing since the week of Feb 22nd. So? If it helps make sure that we’re safe in our place of work, so be it. Until all staff and members are able to receive vaccines, this is a cost of doing business.==
While State Employees working in the Capitol Complex (yes, there are quite a few, including all Secretary of State since last June 1st) don’t get mandatory testing while at work. You have to do it on your own and essentially have to go through hoops to get it (including taking your own time off work while waiting for results).
Comment by EssentialStateEmployeeFromChatham Thursday, Mar 18, 21 @ 5:05 am