Another hostage on the ropes
Wednesday, Jun 8, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* WICS…
Helping Hands says the lack of a state budget could force them to shut down their shelter and release about 50 homeless people onto the streets of Springfield.
State money made up a quarter of the organization’s budget last year, and the organization says they are struggling to make ends meet without it. […]
Helping Hands says there is a bill on the governor’s desk that would provide some funding to many social service agencies including theirs. They say if that passes it would be a huge help, but still wouldn’t cover all of the state’s debt.
Gov. Rauner told reporters today that he doesn’t like that stopgap bill because it failed to include money for critical state operations.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 2:00 pm:
“Speaker Madigan is holding hostage … ”
Rauner has been trying to pivot off ownership, like today.
Rauner has been successful more times than not.
- Justin Observer - Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 2:02 pm:
RE: “Gov. Rauner told reporters today that he doesn’t like that stopgap bill because it failed to include money for critical state operations.”
Ouch. The Governor, is correct, of course. The bill also does not give us a real budget, the bill also does not give us peace in the Middle East, it also does not put a chicken in every pot…
- Precinct Captain - Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 2:04 pm:
House them at mansion. They can get to bunkin’ with the ‘overnor!
- Norseman - Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 2:07 pm:
I’m sorry for your loss, but Rauner appreciates you’re sacrifice for his anti-union agenda.
- RNUG - Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 2:24 pm:
== Gov. Rauner told reporters today that he doesn’t like that stopgap bill because it failed to include money for critical state operations. ==
Rauner wants postage for IDOR and gas for ISO and toilet paper for offices. He doesn’t seem to care about the poor and homeless. Next thing you know he will say: Let them eat cake!
- Marty Funkhouser - Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 2:43 pm:
Somebody ought to tell WICS that the homeless aren’t prisoners who are “released.” Sheesh.
- BBG Watch - Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 2:57 pm:
Bus them all to Winnetka. Maybe Bruce & Diane will take them in - since they do sooooooo much to help the disadvantaged in Illinois.
- Corporate Thug - Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 2:57 pm:
Yeah. Who’s stalling? Your own members voted for it. Sign the bill.
- Lynn - Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 3:11 pm:
Rich, the term “hostages” is now passe. It implies that these human service organizations will be resurrected into operation once State funding is re-established. In actuality, I believe Rauner has moved past this dilemma and any serious consideration of their welfare. Didn’t he come into office with the agenda of privatizing services? And, in effect, hasn’t he now accomplished that goal?? How many social service agencies have suspended operations only to have private for-profit organizations then show up to take over their clients? The budget will resume at some point, but won’t Rauner have by then succeeded in shrinking the governmental funding footprint for social services by a significant amount thru replacement by these private interests? Of course, the safety of the public will be diminished, but Rauner will have saved a buck or two to crow about.
- Honeybear - Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 4:35 pm:
My spouse befriended a man in Springfield who stays in that shelter. He was in the Springfield free paper last Summer on the cover. I met him once too. Nice guy. He was on a mission to help others. It’s going to be rough on him in the heat of summer. I think his name was Richard.
- Dan - Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 5:21 pm:
It also doesn’t make Illinois a right to work state, but I suppose it isn’t politically prudent for the governor to talk about his actual agenda, which (even though it doesn’t belong there) he keeps wedging into budgetary discussions.
- Cardsfan - Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 6:38 pm:
So Rauner won’t discuss a budget unless it includes his TA, hence no budget for FY16 and so far, no budget for FY17. And he also won’t sign a stop gap bill because it doesn’t include funding for critical state services? So I won’t sign the overall budget but I also refuse to sign any appropriations bill to give some people/agencies/etc some money.
In a year and a half he still has not learned how the budget/legislative process works….
- retired guy - Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 10:01 pm:
another one of the thousand cuts that will not cause any movement on the budget
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jun 9, 16 @ 8:42 am:
Just give them the address of the Executive Mansion in Springfield. They can camp on the front lawn.
- Dirty Red - Thursday, Jun 9, 16 @ 9:26 am:
= Somebody ought to tell WICS that the homeless aren’t prisoners who are “released.” =
They provide transitional service for DOC.