Breen Responds To Kifowit's Apology; House Expunges Statement

ACROSS ILLINOIS — The Illinois House voted 110-0 Wednesday to expunge a statement made by Oswego-area State Rep. Stephanie Kifowit Tuesday against Republican state Rep. Peter Breen of Lombard, according to The Daily Herald. Breen addressed the House floor Wednesday to accept Kifowit's apology, one day after she grew heated over remarks by Breen regarding a bill aimed at helping families of the downstate Quincy veterans home residents who died of Legionnaires' disease.

On Tuesday, Kifowit, a Marine veteran and co-sponsor of the legislation, Senate Bill 2481, said, "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.

In a video of Wednesday's House session, Breen had a few things to say about the incident.

"If the representative had made her statement to me in the parking lot or left it as a phone message at my office, she would be in custody right now," he said. "But because she made her statement on the House floor, her remarks were met with applause instead of handcuffs."

More: Illinois Rep Apologizes For Wishing Legionnaires' On Republican

Breen also mentioned his children and his wife, and the "joy" the children bring to their lives.

Although defeated in the Nov. 6 election by Democrat Terra Costa Howard, Breen wants more accountability for the future of Illinois politics, especially in the General Assembly.

Kifowit posted to her Twitter page just before noon Wednesday afternoon, apologizing for Tuesday's remarks.

"I offer my sincere apology to Rep Peter Breen, his family, and all of my House colleagues for my poor choice of words during a serious discussion on our Veterans' health and safety. I would never wish any harm or mortality on anyone's family, including the Breen family."

Kifowit was reelected earlier this month after running against Republican Patty Smith. You can see her original — since expunged — comments here:

AP Photo/Seth Perlman