It's been a busy week so far. I've received emails, telephone calls, and urgent requests to act and make sure that the Illinois Legislature passes a new budget. Why? Two weeks ago, the State legislature passed a so-called "doomsday budget."
Unless further changes are made, on July 1, state funding for social service agencies is going to fall off a cliff.
The FY 2009 budget for the Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS)
is $ 4 billion, but the FY 2010 "doomsday" budget for DHS is $ 1.6
billion. The difference equals a reduction of more than half the social
services budget in the state of Illinois.
What will happen?
Infants, children, and adults are going to lose current services.
Programs will shut down and staff will be laid off. Payment delays for
providers will get worse, and some community organizations may go out
of business.
More specifically, the following services will be cut:
community grants, small and large group homes, day training, workshop,
employment, and supported employment, family support, case management,
statute institutions, everything in the developmental disability
system. These cuts will have a severe impact on the disability
community in Illinois.
There is a $ 12 billion dollar budget
gap, and either spending must be cut or taxes must be increased.
Illinois isn't the only state dealing with a fiscal crisis, but there
is a long history in this state of holding social services funding
hostage to powerful and entrenched political interests.
Something has to give.
Governor Quinn proposed plan for balancing the budget included a 50%
hike in the income tax rate was a nonstarter. His plan B is to cut
social services to the bone.
If you don't like what would
happen if the human services budget is cut like this, please contact
your State legislator and tell them to "restore the human services budget." If you don't know who your legislator is, go to www.votesmart.org to find out.
As the pressure increases, I think that the legislature will restore
the human services budget, but they are seeking political cover before
doing so. Take action and let your legislator know what you think.
Next month, I'll let you know what unfolds.
In the meantime:
Here is the latest list of media events and rallies related to the budget impasse:
Governor Quinn, Thursday, June 18, 11:30, Champaign, Developmental Services Vocational Building, 3102 Clark Road.
Governor Quinn, Thursday, June 18, 3:30, LINC, 120 East Street, Belleville, contact 618-235-9988.
Thursday, June 18, 11:00, Major Human Services Rally, Chicago, James R.
Thompson Center, 100 W. Randolph, contact Sarah Frick: Sarah.Frick@ywcachicago.org
Thursday, June 18, 4:30, YWCA, 412 First Ave, Sterling, for info call 815-625-0333
Thursday, June 18, Joliet, 3:30, Will County Courthouse, 14 W. Jefferson Street, contact Amy Emerson: 815-741-1163
Friday, June 19, Aurora, 10:00, Mercy Hospital Campus, 400 Mercy Lane, contact AID at 630-966-4100
Friday, June 19, Wheaton, 2:00, DuPage County Courthouse, east side of
421 County Farm Road, Contact Lori Hornick: 630-628-7174
Friday, June 19, Watseka, 9:15, The Arc of Iroquois Co, 700 East Elm Street, contact Christine McTaggart: 815-432-5288.
Saturday, June 20, Urbana, United Way Office
Monday, June 22, Olmstead Anniversary Rally for Disability Rights,
11:00, Thompson Center, 100 W. Randolph, contact: Gary Arnold:
312-640-2199.
Monday, June 22, Joliet, Legislative Forum, 4:00 to 6:00, Will Grundy CIL, 2415-A West Jefferson Street, contact 815-729-0162
Tuesday, June 23, Springfield, MASSIVE RALLY at the state capitol. 11:30. Arrive by 11:00 to pass through security.
Wednesday, June 24, Mundelein, Legislative Forum, 4:00 to 6:00, Lake Co. CIL, 377 N. Seymour Ave, contact: 847-949-4440
Friday, June 26, Oak Lawn, 11:00, Park Lawn, 10833 S. LaPorte, info contact Brendan McCormick: 708-335-0020
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