* Emily Miller at Voices for Illinois Children takes a look at Gov. Rauner’s announced budget cuts from yesterday. Her analysis is in italics when discussing specific actions by the governor…
Not sure if you already have folks who have sent you this data, but just in case, the attached spreadsheet is an analysis we (Voices for Illinois Children, as part of the Responsible Budget Coalition) did of CCP cuts in Rauner’s budget. We, at this point, assume that the cuts he suggested yesterday mirror those of his original proposal. We have no indication that it would be anything other than that.
We don’t have numbers on a good number of items cut yesterday because they have never been mentioned before to advocates as being potentially on the chopping block. If you’re looking at this from a policy perspective, the fact that we’ve not discussed these cuts before (when SO many other cuts have been contemplated) makes me ask why the Governor considers the cuts to be a good idea to enact immediately when they were not included in the initial budget proposal or Good Friday Massacre. But of course, this decision was not made while looking at this from a policy perspective. This is like a sick game of chess where the pawns are seniors, children, and low-income families.
• Prepare and provide notice for the July 1 suspension of the State Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (SLIHEAP). The federal portion of the program, funded at about $170 million, will continue. [According to the Governor’s budget book, 155,000 families would lose heating assistance, while 60,000 families would lose cooling assistance.]
Department on Aging
• File emergency rules to enact means testing to Aging’s Community Care Program. No income limit currently exists.
• Increase the Determination of Need (DON) Score required to obtain services through Aging’s Community Care Program [Combined effect of above two items (assuming same DON score increase as in his budget) would be about 39,000 seniors losing access to the program. (The attached document has estimates by area of state for CCP.)]
Department of Human Services
• DHS will pursue cost control strategies through emergency rules to the Childcare Program:
• Increase copays for parents using the programs [increases costs to parents by $10 million annually (if the copayment increase is the same as envisioned in his budget)]
• Freeze intake and create waiting lists. [This is somewhat ambiguous. Does he mean freeze all intake? Intake for school aged children? As we’ve discussed before, freezing intake for school-aged kids could eventually mean that tens of thousands of kids could lose access.]
The spreadsheet is here.
* Meanwhile, SEIU Healthcare points out that some of these things probably aren’t legal…
Gov. Bruce Rauner late Tuesday announced unilateral cuts to a wide array of vital services and programs that working families and seniors depend upon–without waiting for a budget deal to be finalized.
The package of cuts Rauner announced included eligibility restrictions for the Community Care Program that likely contradict Illinois law, as well as cuts to the state Child Care Assistance Program.
Following is the response of SEIU Healthcare Illinois President Keith Kelleher:
“Bruce Rauner’s unilateral cuts announced [yesterday] likely will not pass muster in court and they certainly do not pass muster with the values of the people of Illinois. They will inflict pain on countless struggling families and seniors–all in the name of ‘reform.’
“The bottom line is that Bruce Rauner refuses true budgetary reform–generating much-needed revenue by making the wealthy of the state pay their fair share.
“Denying child care for kids; home care for seniors; and the crucial resources that thousands of working families rely upon to meet their most basic needs shows a warped set of priorities, especially when Gov. Rauner is doing everything he can to protect those at the very top.
“We will pursue all the options at our disposal to protect seniors, as well as children and working families, from these immoral and unilateral moves.”
The union says it currently estimates 5,000 families, 10,000 kids and 40,000 seniors would be immediately impacted by the cuts.
…Adding… More from the Tribune…
Downstate, Rauner initiated the closing of the Hardin County work camp, a Department of Corrections facility based in southern Illinois. About 180 inmates will be moved to other facilities and 60 workers affected, the governor’s office said.
“I’m a big believer in working in a bipartisan manner, a big believer in compromise,” said Rep. Brandon Phelps, D-Harrisburg, who represents the area. “But I can’t compromise when he’s going after families I represent. I’m going to fight harder than I ever had to make sure this doesn’t close.”
Closer to home, Maria Whelan, president and CEO of Illinois Action for Children, which administers the child care subsidy program for low-income parents in Cook County, said the announcement of larger copayments and a freeze on new entrants came as a surprise.
“What that means is that when you get a job working nights and weekends at a Target or a McDonald’s or a Wal-Mart … that you have no access to child care,” Whelan said. “I find it absolutely stunning that we can talk in the same sentence about turning around a state in terms of our economy and pulling out from under working families one of the most important and essential work supports that they must have to do their jobs.”
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:21 am:
The impact is the owned Rauner governing by crisis.
The legality is another boondoggle like the “fair share” monies and the stubbornness of Rauner.
Both groups of decisions have Rauner’s name attached.
- A guy - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:27 am:
Willy, it’s just not being viewed that way my friend. The impatience with state government is growing by the day.
- Harry - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:30 am:
So, Phelps is a big believer in compromise as long as he isn’t called on to make any compromises? Got it!
Rich was SO right a few days ago with the Godfather/Clemenza/mattresses quote. It’s going to take a while for both sides to re-learn the art of compromise and working together.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:35 am:
- A Guy -, you and @StatehouseChick are the only ones thinking Rauner isn’t owning these things.
Governors own these things, and in the end, those effected most by the cuts of FY2016 and these Rauner decisions will realize choices made are Rauner’s.
- Anon - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:36 am:
This morning on WGN, Rauner mentioned the loss of 97,000 union jobs in Illinois. Did he believe that sharing this number would suddenly garner the support of workers he is out to destroy? For a leader to hold poor, seniors and children hostage to advance his own interests and agenda is unconscionable.
I hope members of Illinois’ GOP take a hard look at their governor and then a hard look at those he is willing to make suffer and find a bit of compassion to do the right thing. Or do they fear Rauner that much? Are they that dependent on his money? If they cannot say no to him, then they are as culpable in the suffering he plans to unleash.
- anon - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:37 am:
Willy, you can throw me in with A Guy and Statehouse Chick.
- Arsenal - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:40 am:
==Willy, it’s just not being viewed that way my friend.==
Cite?
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:43 am:
- anon -, I’ll stay off your lawn too… lol
- MrJM - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:43 am:
“Rauner’s Cuts” won’t be owned by Governor Rauner in much the same way that “Custer’s Last Stand” isn’t owned by General Custer.
– MrJM
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:43 am:
The impatience with state government is growing by the day.
Really? In which state?
- Austin Blvd - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:44 am:
Anon,
Perhaps a global economy and job loss had something to do with the loss of those jobs (CAT, etc.).
If the way to replace those jobs is through lower paying jobs by attracting Mississippi-types of employers, then we see on a race to the bottom.
We need a leader who wants to see all boats rise.
- AnonymousOne - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:45 am:
As jobs are being cut and wages frozen or slashed…people unable to work because they can’t afford daycare…..how does this translate into a bigger pot of taxes collected?
- A guy - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:45 am:
Ars, truly…do you talk to anyone outside your house? Watch any news programs, read any newspapers? Go to any township events, etc.?
I’m not being snide here buddy. The crowd is with Rauner on this placing blame with the legislature in general and Madigan and Cullerton in particular. And the media onslaught hasn’t even begun.
Madigan’s mail landed with a “thud”. This ain’t good for them. It ain’t.
- Austin Blvd - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:47 am:
I see Rick Perry of TX won praise for being the top state, according to business surveys, multiple years in a row.
However, when it came to quality of life, TX came in around 46.
Swagger helps bidness, but not so good for citizens.
- A guy - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:48 am:
=== VanillaMan - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:43 am:
The impatience with state government is growing by the day.
Really? In which state?===
My state friend, mine!
- Anon - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:48 am:
@A guy. I do watch the news, read newspapers, attend events, follow social media, and talk to folks outside my house. And, Rauner’s all or nothing approach, along with the memories of the Good Friday Massacre, will, I think, come back to haunt him.
- White Denim - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:51 am:
Remember when New York Times columnist Pauline Kael had famously quipped that she lived in a “special world,” where she “only [knew] one person who voted for Nixon?”
That must be the same special world that some of the commenters on this blog live in. They have spent so much time in that special world that they forgot another world - the real one - actually exists.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:51 am:
If all you say is true - A Guy -, why didn’t Rauner announce the Good Friday Massacre cuts on a Session Day, in front of microphones, and blast the Dems, with his own words, and then…
…stick with the cuts staying intact?
Because Rauner owning those Cuts… It stuck.
It stuck like all Governors face with decisions and cuts like those.
- Arsenal - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:52 am:
==Ars, truly…do you talk to anyone outside your house? Watch any news programs, read any newspapers? Go to any township events, etc.?==
Yes, I do.
My question still stands.
- NewWestSuburbanGOP'er - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:53 am:
“I hope members of Illinois’ GOP take a hard look at their governor and then a hard look at those he is willing to make suffer and find a bit of compassion to do the right thing. Or do they fear Rauner that much? Are they that dependent on his money? If they cannot say no to him, then they are as culpable in the suffering he plans to unleash.”
THe answer is YES!!!! The GOP fears Rauner and his money. THey have become lapdogs trained to regurgitate Rauner campaign lines and have ceased to think for themselves. As Oswego Willy would say, his party has now become the Raunerite party.
- Jack Stephens - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:53 am:
Bruce is pocketing about $700,000.00 in Welfare this year….compared to last.
Glad he thinks his nutmeg duster at the coffee shop shouldn’t get any help.
Some folks are born with a silver spoon in hand. It ain’t me!
- Century Club - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:55 am:
I think if I were Rauner, I would have rolled out the cuts differently - starting with the museums, prison closings/consolidations, and freezing biz subsidies. Then would add furlough days or some other haircut for non-union state employees (sorry Beth Purvis). Leave the kids and seniors until next week. I know he’s trying to punish Democrats (& SEIU), but he needs to be careful to keep the narrative at “I’m trying to turn around IL” and not get back to the Good Friday massacre, where he just looked callous.
- Arizona Bob - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:56 am:
@ Austin
=Perhaps a global economy and job loss had something to do with the loss of those jobs (CAT, etc.).=
Actually, CAT has been expanding and creating jobs in other states, Austin. They’ve just had enough of the anti business culture in Illinois and are downsizing as part of their necessary exit strategy from a toxic business environment.
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:56 am:
==Then would add furlough days or some other haircut for non-union state employees ==
Um, you are going to need those people should there be a strike or lockout. Doing that would be shooting yourself in the foot.
- Amuzing Myself - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:57 am:
Oh, one other thing. As far as politics go, I don’t think Rauner cares about votes at this point, but those hurt most by a reigned in state government didn’t likely vote for him to begin with. The margin in the middle that got him elected want a balanced budget and some sanity returned to the process and to government in general. I doubt many of them will be rushing out to denounce him for doing what he told them he was going to do to get their votes in the first place. Again, I don’t think this is really a concern right now. Just political reality. It will also explain how deep the Dems will dig their heels in, because it is their traditional constituencies that will be most affected. Not sure how a deal will be reached. In general, the Dems have a whole lot more to lose in this fight that Rauner does.
- A guy - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:58 am:
===My question still stands.===
Get out more. You’ll hear and see more. There has been some polling shared here on CF too. Not sure what more I can do for you man.
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:58 am:
==They’ve just had enough of the anti business culture in Illinois and are downsizing as part of their necessary exit strategy from a toxic business environment.==
Yeah, Bob, that’s why they are upgrading and expanding their headquarters in Peoria. They are ready to cut and run from Illinois.
- Arsenal - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 10:59 am:
==Get out more.==
It’s your assertion, I’m not going to prove it for you.
- Norseman - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 11:00 am:
=== The package of cuts Rauner announced included eligibility restrictions for the Community Care Program that likely contradict Illinois law, ===
I don’t know about contradicting the law rather it doesn’t authorize means testing. JCAR will deal with this and child care emergency rules proposals. Curious as to whether Rauner’s folks can successfully justify an emergency to JCAR based on a budget he hasn’t acted upon.
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 11:00 am:
Also Bob (and not to insult your brilliant business acumen), I think the world market for heavy equipment might have a bit to do with the balance sheet for CAT. I know that’s just a tiny detail to the political neophytes who think it’s all politics, but you might look at economics as a driver too.
- Crispy - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 11:05 am:
Re the throwdown currently going on in the comments section here: are there any *current* polls by reputable, impartial pollsters (i.e., not part-owned by BVR or endorsed by IPI) that could offer some insight into what Illinois voters are actually thinking about all this? Anyone know?
- Wordslinger - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 11:06 am:
Guy, you have an amazing childlike belief that any baseless assertion that pops into your head is a universal truth.
Personally, outside of this blog, I don’t encounter many people talking about state government, at all. Never have.
- Soccertease - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 11:10 am:
Isn’t it the Dem’s budget that Rauner is being asked to manage? Rauner has been preaching that he wants to make IL a more comapssionate state. So isn’t this just leveraging to get his turnaround agenda in place?
- Cassandra - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 11:13 am:
Having means testing for community care doesn’t sound punitive to me. There are many affluent seniors. They can pay something. And they can purchase long-term care insurance. Something’s missing here. I can’t believe we are giving expensive home-based services free or under cost to anyone, regardless of income.
- CharlieKratos - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 11:20 am:
If Facebook is any indication, as long as Rauner can hurt “anyone but me”, he’ll be fine. Most people I see talking about him are saying he’s “making the tough choices” and “it’s about time someone stood up to Madigan” and other drivel.
Never before have I wanted so badly to reach through a computer screen to slap sense into people.
Unless your income bracket is at least equal to his, Rauner does not have your best interests at heart. Period.
- Century Club - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 11:23 am:
Cassandra, I think a lot of people would agree with you on that. However, the Community Care Program has an asset limit that functionally knocks out many well-off senior, and uses income level to determine their co-pay. So I’m guessing this is not a big money saver.
- nixit71 - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 11:24 am:
In perusing the IRS filing for Illinois Action for Children, I see Maria Whelan, president and CEO, was paid $301,000 in 2013. There is also COO there making $200,000 and 4 VP’s making over $150,000 as well. Seems like some can profit from a not-for-profit.
Along with much needed revenues, perhaps a restructuring and wage decrease is in order in this era of “shared sacrifice.” After all, its for the children, right?
- Skirmisher - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 11:31 am:
Based on the entirely unscientific observation of opinions expressed by almost everyone I talk to at such unpolitical places like the Legion hall, I would guess that “A Guy” has his finger much more on the public’s pulse than does “Willie” and those of his persuasion. The disgust seems to be almost entirely directed at the Legislature and the same-old, same-old.
- Let'sMovetoTexas - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 11:33 am:
In the real world that I inhabit, Rauner is being applauded right now, even by most of my Dem friends.
- Anon - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 11:34 am:
@nixit71. The organization’s income for FY13 was $34,364,371, of which $30,826,109 was for program services. The organization receives high marks for transparency, unlike our Governor to date. If you are going to cite the organization’s 990s, then I suggest you do so in context. The 990s can be found at http://bit.ly/1ANXD8U and additional information at the organization’s Website.
- AlabamaShake - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 11:41 am:
So the Governor wants to make it harder for seniors to receive home care services, but he doesn’t change the eligibility for nursing homes?
So, basically, he wants to push seniors into much more costly services? And this is supposed to be budget savings?
Oh, and the change in DON score likely violates at least 3 different state and federal laws/rules.
- Rhino Slider - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 11:43 am:
If the Illinois Constitution states the budget must be balanced, could in theory, Rauner be put in jail if he doesn’t produce a balanced budget?
- AlabamaShake - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 11:44 am:
**In the real world that I inhabit, Rauner is being applauded right now, even by most of my Dem friends.**
For what? Making it so 5000 families a month dont have access to affordable child care, making it nearly impossible for them to work? Yay! Lets force people onto welfare and Medicaid!
Or, is it for kicking tens of thousands of seniors out of the Community Care Program, but still keeping them eligible for nursing homes? So in turn, costing the state much more money by forcing seniors into nursing homes? Yay! Go Rauner!
The “real world” sure applauds some strange things.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 11:44 am:
- Skirmisher -,
Here is what I do know in the long game of cuts, budgets, good hires, bad hires, over budget projects and under funded programs;
Governors own their Administrations and decisions.
Rauner knows it too. Case in point, Goid Friday Massacre Cuts and all that happened after.
Owned by the Governor.
Today, Rauner is running this as well as he can. Heck, when a reporter with years and years of experience refuses to acknowledge what she knows is true about Governors owning things, Rauner will be fine… until like the Good Friday Cuts actually are real.
Then will really know. Only then.
- Anon - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 11:45 am:
@Let’sMovetoTexas In the real world I inhabit, Democrats and Republicans alike are more than disappointed in Rauner and laying blame at his feet.
Many Democrats have supported moderate Republican governors in the past. They did not that with Rauner. Government is not a business, legislators and members of the public are not his employees, and he doesn’t own the state, even though he may think otherwise.
- Aldyth - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 11:51 am:
The asset limit for Community Care is $17,000. That includes the cash value of life insurance policies, retirement accounts, savings, bank account, stocks, etc.
There are a whole lot of seniors who aren’t eligible for free homemaking assistance.
- nona - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 12:01 pm:
Slashing heating and cooling assistance for poor families…Jacking up copays on childcare for the working poor…This is how Rauner is making Illinois the most compassionate state in the Union. The fact that many support afflicting the afflicted while comforting the comfortable (with their big tax cut) is a shame.
- Downstate Illinois - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 12:36 pm:
Just to give an idea of how some of these cuts would impact. Closing the Hardin County Work Camp with its 180 inmates would cause a 4.3 percent reduction in the population of the county.
- Secret Square - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 12:38 pm:
“the change in DON score likely violates at least 3 different state and federal laws/rules.”
Citations, please?
- facts are stubborn things - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 12:41 pm:
I think the Dems are fine with Rauner making (owning) the cuts and I think Rauner is fine with it also. A funny convergence, that both hope will lead to more revenue — it a way both can live with.
- A guy - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 12:43 pm:
=== Wordslinger - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 11:06 am:
Guy, you have an amazing childlike belief that any baseless assertion that pops into your head is a universal truth.
Personally, outside of this blog, I don’t encounter many people talking about state government, at all. Never have.===
LOL. Become a precinct captain, you’ll spend entire weekends talking about it.
- No Raise - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 12:44 pm:
Love the Day Care co-pay increases. Don’t have kids if you’re not going to raise them.
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 12:51 pm:
Don’t have kids if you’re not going to raise them.
Doesn’t that come from Matthew 19:14?
- anon - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 12:52 pm:
Or Word could move to Springfield, he may hear a little political talk there.
- The other Dave - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 12:54 pm:
Here is a link to the Olmstead decision I’m referring to. The summary covers the ADA aspect as well https://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/98-536.ZS.html
- Norseman - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 1:27 pm:
=== Love the Day Care co-pay increases. Don’t have kids if you’re not going to raise them. ===
Disregarding the simplistic rhetoric, the way government should work is that an analysis should be done to determine the impact of the change. Will it increase the cost of other govt. benefits? While there may be other social costs, at a minimum we should know if we are in fact saving less money than what we’ll spend on other programs.
- Wordslinger - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 2:06 pm:
Guy, you lead a umiquely charmed existence in your frenetic and exhausting schedule of gauging the public mood.
Not only does everyone you speak to all have the same opinions, but they all agree with you, always.
- cover - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 2:35 pm:
= are there any *current* polls by reputable, impartial pollsters (i.e., not part-owned by BVR or endorsed by IPI) that could offer some insight into what Illinois voters are actually thinking about all this? =
Although I haven’t seen any recent polls, typically the general public opposes both cuts to state services and increases in taxes that would be necessary to pay for those services. Must be nice to be able to ignore reality…
- How Ironic - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 2:38 pm:
@Cassandra:
“Having means testing for community care doesn’t sound punitive to me. There are many affluent seniors…And they can purchase long-term care insurance. ”
When you are senior, ‘long term care insurance’ isn’t cheap, it’s unavailable.
It’s like any insurance. The more likely you are to need it, the cost rises very quick.
You make it sound as though they can just roll into an insurance office at 65 or 70 and just pay a few bucks and ‘magically’ their care is covered.
How much do you think a $1,000,000 term life insurance policy will cost at 65 or 70? (I’ll give you a hint…too much).
A long term care policy is exponentially more expensive than that.
- AlabamaShake - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 2:39 pm:
**“the change in DON score likely violates at least 3 different state and federal laws/rules.”
Citations, please?**
1 - 1915(c) waiver links HCBS eligibility to institutional eligibility.
2 - the state current has MOE requirements related to the $$ received through the Balancing Inventive Payment Program (BIPP)
3 - You likely can’t have different eligibility standards for different disabilities/waivers
4 - It is very like likely a violation of Olmstead (requires access to least restrictive setting).
5 - It is very difficult to explain to the feds why Person A was eligible for Medicaid home care yesterday, but not today, even though their level of disability didn’t change. That would be an arbitrary cut, which the feds don’t allow.
I may be able to keep going…
- A guy - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 2:47 pm:
=== Wordslinger - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 2:06 pm:
Guy, you lead a umiquely charmed existence in your frenetic and exhausting schedule of gauging the public mood.
Not only does everyone you speak to all have the same opinions, but they all agree with you, always.===
Not really Sling. I listen to them first. I disagree sometimes and fight the fight every precinct captain does; to change minds. While they’re not always right, there’s always some consensus. And I bring it to you. That’s what we were trained to do as precinct captains years ago. It still works.
- Arsenal - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 3:19 pm:
==Although I haven’t seen any recent polls, typically the general public opposes both cuts to state services and increases in taxes that would be necessary to pay for those services.==
The thing is, that’s not even the nature of the dispute. Governor Rauner, Speaker Madigan, and President Cullerton all want to avoid cuts, and will approve of new revenue to do it! Governor Rauner just wants to save some face on the humiliating defeat of his agenda first.
- Arsenal - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 3:23 pm:
…and given what the Governor just said about MJM taking up Workers Comp, it looks like it’s not even about that. He just ginned up a crisis to give him an excuse to run a bunch of negative ads.
- Secret Square - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 3:26 pm:
AlabamaShake: So here’s how I interpret your citations:
The problem with raising the DON score is that it would effectively force people into nursing homes by making it harder for them to qualify for CCP. The Olmstead decision declared that states cannot insist upon keeping disabled persons in institutions when they want home/community based care and this care is feasible for them, because this violates the federal ADA. Moreover, if IL or any other state accepts federal Medicaid matching funds that are contingent upon “maintenance of effort,” it can’t turn around and tighten up the eligibility requirements for the matched program in an attempt to save more money. Did I get that right?
- Carl LaFong - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 3:35 pm:
Nixit71
Do you really believe a CEO pay of $300k is out of line? Rauner makes millions a year because of accounting laws that caused the collapse of Enron and the housing market to name a few. As long as these business oligarchs treat people as assets and liabilities on a balance sheet we will continue to see cuts in services to the citizens who pay for them.
As for road construction projects put on hold, this will effect Rauner’s business friends. I know many of you use the interstates and tollways for transportation. I do, and what I see is the major use is by truckers who work for corporations who do not want to pay taxes. If the corporations get their business friendly agenda of lower taxes it will mean the common citizen will have to foot the bill even more so than we currently do. Look at Walmart, they have wiped out numerous local retail business and burdened us with food and housing subsidies so their low paid employers can live at the taxpayers expense.
I do not buy this good for business crap spewed by ALEC and the Chamber of Commerce. Business used to pay $1.00 to $.33 for citizens, now they pay $.07 for each $.33 of our citizens. There is only so much money and right now the slice of the pie is shrinking for the working folk with a paycheck. Worshiping the big business job creators with tax breaks has wiped out the small mom and pop local businesses that were the cornerstone of America.
- nixit71 - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 4:02 pm:
==Do you really believe a CEO pay of $300k is out of line?==
When someone making $300K wants to raise my taxes, and that person benefits directly from said higher taxes, then yes, I will call them out, regardless of profit/non-profit status.
- Federalist - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 4:15 pm:
“Bruce Rauner’s unilateral cuts announced [yesterday] likely will not pass muster in court ….”
No certain about that, particularly if the the GA does not give him a balanced budget as required by law.
And when I say I am not certain that is what I mean. This could get very interesting and establish a precedent, if it goes to court, one way or the other.
- Observation - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 4:36 pm:
- Did I get that right?
Alabama Shake
If the DON score is not also raised for nursing home eligibility, then yes, people may have no other choice than to enter a nursing home because they no longer qualify for CCP. One of the benefits of CCP is that it can provide in home services for those people whom do not need a skilled nursing level of care at a fraction of the cost. I question whether or not the feds would allow the DON score to be raised for CCP while leaving the nursing home DON the same.
Olmstead decision: you are basically correct.
“Maintenance of effort” - States technically can tighten up eligibility requirements and there is a waiver amendment process for that. However, it is a very difficult process and one in which a state has to produce a lot of evidence regarding level of continued care. In other words, “we don’t have the money” is not likely to cut it.
- Federalist - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 4:54 pm:
“Maintenance of effort” - States technically can tighten up eligibility requirements and there is a waiver amendment process for that. However, it is a very difficult process and one in which a state has to produce a lot of evidence regarding level of continued care. In other words, “we don’t have the money” is not likely to cut it.
That is one more reason why the FEDS should have taken over Medicaid in the first place. They want to dictate the rules and run the show but have states pay half the costs.
What is most interesting t me is that the Governors of all the state did not get together a long time ago and have the FEDS take it over.
Medicare, passed at basically the same time is not a federal/state program.
- MyTwoCents - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 6:38 pm:
@nixit71 if you want to discuss salaries, let’s talk about how Rauner is using our tax dollars. $250K for an education secretary (is the State superintendent not good enough?) paid out of DHS funds, $120K for a no-bid contract for Arduin, drastically higher salaries for staffers, $100K for a chief of staff for the First Lady, salaries for staffers paid by ISP (how many cars could that buy?) and that’s only a few examples. Yet he’s saying, “cuts for you but not for me.” Isn’t that completely hypocritical? And yes, he’s saying the budget for the Governors office will be lower, but that’s easy to do when you off-shore a bunch of your high dollar salaries.
When will people realize cuts like LIHEAP, the ISP cars and the open land grants are basically fake cuts since they don’t affect GRF? I don’t think I’ve seen that mentioned in too much media coverage outside of here.
- Hit or Miss - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 7:03 pm:
I was looking at the spreadsheet for the impact of the Rauner budget cuts to the Community Care Program. Rauner was the winner of the vote in all but one county in Illinois, Cook County where Quinn won by about a 2 to 1 margin. Which county receives the lowest impact, according to the spreadsheet, of the cuts in its Community Care Program is Cook County.
- Cassandra - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 7:21 pm:
How Ironic-
Yes, they would have had to purchase it earlier in their lives, when it was less costly. Lots of people do it. Affluent seniors were probably affluent wage-earners during much or even most of their working lives.
Somebody posted that there is an asset limit, which may exclude many of the affluent. I am still surprised that the service is not means-tested for current income, though. Or rather, I see nothing irrational with the Rauner administration attempting to apply a means test if the service is currently free regardless of income.
- RNUG - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 12:43 am:
== And they can purchase long-term care insurance. == -Cassandra-
Actually, a lot of insurance companies have found LTC is too costly and are getting out of the business. The ones that haven’t left are significantly raising their rates. I have a LTC policy with a very reputable company that stopped selling LTC about 2 years ago and, although they have never raised rates before, just raised their rates this past year on the LTC policies they have. They’ve promised not to cancel us, but they no longer promise the rates won’t keep going up.