Although the governor has not officially decided on Senate Bill 178, State Rep. Chapin Rose said Governor Pat Quinn made his decision on the House floor Tuesday night.

A group of the bill’s supporters approached Gov. Quinn Tuesday, Rose said, and asked him to strongly consider passing the bill.

The bill would allow Health Alliance and other health insurance providers to stay with their customers for two more years.

Losing Health Alliance would affect approximately 80 percent of Eastern’s employees, a university press release said May 26.

However, when Rose and the group of supporters asked the governor to consider it, Rose said he was given a stern answer.

“He made one thing clear – he’s not going to sign it,” Rose said.

By not signing the bill, Rose said Gov. Quinn is making it clear he will not be supporting state employees.

“He’s not going to stand up for people who work every day for the state of Illinois,” Rose said.

A stern “No” from the governor caused an argument, Rose said.

“He and I had serious words in the House (Tuesday night),” Rose said. “It’s hard to describe it, but it was serious words. It was beyond a conversation.”

Rose said the bill, which was supported by 98 “Yes” votes in the House Monday, would give the governor a chance to do the right thing.

“And he said ‘No,'” Rose said. “I’m amazed at the governor’s lack of compassion. 98 people in the House voted ‘Yes’ to do it and the governor’s not going to?”

Rose said he had a personal question for Gov. Quinn, after the governor said he wouldn’t pass the bill.

“I told him, ‘Let me ask you this. My eighth grade teacher is in the fight of his life right now, half way through Chemo therapy, and he’s going to have to change doctors?” Rose said.

Rose’s eighth grade teacher would be one of the many affected by Gov. Quinn’s veto.

Four out of every five Eastern employees would be affected, the press release said.

If Gov. Quinn vetoes the bill, Eastern employees will have to change their health insurance plan if they are currently under Health Alliance.

The deadline to make a decision on which health plan each employee chooses is June 17, the press release said.

Employees enrolled in Health Alliance HMO or Personal Care HMO will have to choose a different provider, the press release said. Effective July 1, the three available providers will be Personal Care OAP, HealthLink OAP and Quality Care Health Plan.

Two other providers, HMO Illinois and Blue Advantage, are also available to state employees, but don’t extend to Charleston, so neither will be an option for Eastern employees.

Rose said he thinks it’s trying the governor thinks there are plenty health insurance providers.

“They can say there are plenty of providers, but why would they have to have two open enrollment periods then,” Rose said. “It’s as simple as that.”

The governor’s office refused to comment on the bill without knowing Gov. Quinn’s decision.

Sen. Dale Righter could not be reached for comment by the time of deadline.

Alex McNamee can be reached at 581-7942 or deneic@gmail.com