In his letter of Aug. 14, Phil Bradley, Director of Public Aid, attempts to praise himself, Jim Edgar and Dawn Clark Netsch for making ”emergency relief payments” and ”emergency hardship payments” to pharmacies ”meeting the criteria . . .” He goes on to mention ”efforts to ensure that pharmacies are not forced into closure . . .” as if the state of Illinois is doing these pharmacies a favor.
Who put the pharmacies into this position in the first place? Does the state`s lack of payment to these pharmacies give it the right to view itself as a savior when it finally does come across with a portion of the money owed these people? I think not. If anything, Mr. Bradley`s approach should be one of remorse for the state`s lack of fiscal responsibility.
Mr. Bradley also places some of the blame for the pharmacies` hardships on the sluggish economy and increased competition. I wonder how long the State of Illinois would accept these as valid reasons if the pharmacies were to withhold payment of state income tax.
