48 Comments - Bill - Thursday, Jun 18, 09 @ 9:58 am: ==Better the Democrats start listening to what Radogno and Cross keep explaining:== Better the Tribune start watching what the Republicans do instead of what they “explain”. All the repubs voted against pension reform in committee. All the dems voted do pass. Welcome to Bizzaro Springfield. - Steve - Thursday, Jun 18, 09 @ 10:01 am: If pensions aren’t reformed now? When? - True Observer - Thursday, Jun 18, 09 @ 10:05 am: 1. There is a shortage of children such that people have to resort to foreign adoptions with all the expense that they entail. 2. The Illinois legislature makes it difficult to adopt. The druggie and no-good parents are given years to reform so they can get their kids back. 3. In the meantime, the foster-parent industry continues to thrive because there is tax payer money to be had. How about making it easier to cut off parental rights so that these kids can be adopted out? - Rich Miller - Thursday, Jun 18, 09 @ 10:08 am: ===How about making it easier to cut off parental rights so that these kids can be adopted out? === I think it’d be easier to raise taxes than do that. - Bill - Thursday, Jun 18, 09 @ 10:09 am: I would hardly call foster parenting an industry. Do you know how little they get in exchange for housing, feeding and taking care of those children? Get a clue. - Rich Miller - Thursday, Jun 18, 09 @ 10:10 am: I agree with Bill. That “continues to thrive” comment of yours was pretty silly. - John Bambenek - Thursday, Jun 18, 09 @ 10:11 am: I told people while pushing for the con-con the state would be broke like this in 5-10 years. The economy just sped up the inevitable caused by deficit spending and shorting the pensions. Its that simple. - Rich Miller - Thursday, Jun 18, 09 @ 10:11 am: Also, my parents took in two foster children when I was a kid. They didn’t do it for the money. So, I guess I’m personally offended by that comment. - VanillaMan - Thursday, Jun 18, 09 @ 10:14 am: I’m tired of watching a little minority party who is barely a player in Illinois politics be used as human shields for the Party in Power. Enough. If the Democrats will rather play politics than vote for a plan they believe in, or support the leadership they elected to lead them, they have the problem - not the GOP. After gaining power in Illinois, the Party in Power has shut down effective bipartisanship. They can’t turn around now, and use the GOP, just as they use state workers, the homeless, foster children, retirees, and other groups as human shields. Their inactions speak louder than their actions. - VanillaMan - Thursday, Jun 18, 09 @ 10:15 am: It isn’t an “industry”, it is a culture of caring. - Raymond Moley - Thursday, Jun 18, 09 @ 10:16 am: DOC is starting a Cadet Class of 120 on June 22 while at the same time facing thousands of layoffs after July 1st. Is that crazy or what? - MOON - Thursday, Jun 18, 09 @ 10:17 am: I think part of the solution to bring the GOP on board for a tax increase is to slash the amount of money going to public education. By doing this the GOP members of the legislature will be pressured by their constiuents to solve the problem with regards to lack of funds or face the wrath of the voters. - Skirmisher - Thursday, Jun 18, 09 @ 10:20 am: My parents also took in a foster child, who today is like a blood brother to me and a son to my folks. And, their intervention saved him to become a successful AT&T executive. So add me to the offended list, Rich. These hacks are really playing with people’s lives. Madigan, Cross, Ragodno…By any name, they have made themselves despicable in their self-serving irresponsibility. - pmels - Thursday, Jun 18, 09 @ 10:21 am: It is kinda of a joke blaming this fiasco on Republicans. Mike Madigan and the Democrats never included them in any discussion, being drunk with their power over this state. Now, they are just supposed ot ignore their constituents and vote for a plan crafted entirelly by the Democrats? The poor down trodden that Rich (seems_ to care so much for, should blame the people who have been in charge of this state, not those who have not. If the Democrats were willing to take on public service workers, and their pet projects, then the draconian cuts can be averted. - wordslinger - Thursday, Jun 18, 09 @ 10:21 am: –State income-tax revenue fell 26% in the first four months of 2009 compared to the same period last year– Hello. There’s that 800 pound gorilla we’ve been looking for. He was here all along. A month-to-month budget? Why don’t we just check the couch cushions for change or see if we can sell our CDs at the used record store? GOP lawmakers are scared of a challenge from the far-right. They’ll jump on a tax increase once the primary deadline is passed. So much for the capital bill in the midst of a recession. The Tribune is really clueless. You spend all day sending out resumes, you really don’t pay attention to your job. - Cassandra - Thursday, Jun 18, 09 @ 10:23 am: Well, maybe some of the foster kids could go back to their real families under this scenario. DCFS has a poor record on length of stay in foster care and on permanency. Kids that don’t go home right away languish for years. Many natural parents work very hard to get their kids back and should do so. But the federal money stream is towards foster care not reunification. Anyway, I think the first order of business next week should be to create a process by which social services money is protected in the budget battle. After all, as I said yesterday, we’re still paying taxes. Money is going into state coffers every day, every week, every month. What are they doing with it? Do they get to keep it and look at it while they try to figure out ways to hit up the middle class for a regressive tax increase while dodging any significant cuts. Meanwhile, DCFS should take a look at its administrative structure, which is highly duplicative. From looking at the data, there are at least six regional offices each with at least two separate multitiered administrative structures, with child protection separate from other functions. Caseworkers and direct supervisors worked under several layers of administrators. If caseworkers are as competent as AFSCME tells us they are, why do they need all these big bucks administrators overseeing them. And why not consolidate those administrative structures. DCFS needs to both flatten and consolidate. So do many other state agencies. If they can’t figure out how to do it, they could ask General Motors. Send my money to the foster kids. Lose the politically connected pork. - Rich Miller - Thursday, Jun 18, 09 @ 10:24 am: pmels, Democrats get the blame for everything that happened before May 31st. I agree. But today is a new day, and we’re into three-fifths territory. So the Repubs share in the consequences. That’s how this is done. If you don’t like it, too bad. - Boxing Cross - Thursday, Jun 18, 09 @ 10:24 am: Just think how sad BoxedTom will look in SPI next week when he talks about the 2012 election and his pathetic hope th win some seats and senior services evaporate. Never thought Lee A Daniels could be topped, but BoxedTom has leaper to the top. - Chicago Cynic - Thursday, Jun 18, 09 @ 10:26 am: It’s pathetic that the supposedly responsible approach advocated by Republicans and the Speaker is to adopt fully funded spending and hope that we figure out the rest of it later. This “Hope budget” is a sham. By fully funding now, we guarantee the cuts and tax increases will have to be greater to balance the budget in the last half of the year. There’s plenty of shame to go around on this and deserved scorn for all. - Niles Township - Thursday, Jun 18, 09 @ 10:29 am: The longer the legislative leaders and their subordinates (and I use that term purposefully) continue to suggest things like a month to month or six month budget, the more sane Quinn’s ideas seem to me. - Yellow Dog Democrat - Thursday, Jun 18, 09 @ 10:30 am: ===How about making it easier to cut off parental rights so that these kids can be adopted out? === Here’s a little reality for you: The General Assembly budget not only reduces support for children in foster care by 50%, but cuts support for adoptive parents by 50% as well. Many, many kids languish in foster care not because Illinois isn’t swift in severing parental rights. Under Illinois law they are severed within a year, and Illinois is recognized nationally as a leader in policies that move children to permanent homes. Are there policy changes we could make? Sure. We could erase barriers that prevent same sex couples from adopting, or older couples, or single parents. But those policies changes don’t erase the fact that many couples would rather go through the tremendous cost and red-tape of adopting a newborn child from overseas than adopting a teenager who comes from an abused and broken home here in Illinois. And unless you’ve actually taken it upon yourself personally to adopt a child out of foster care, I’d caution you against throwing stones at the system. - Speaking at Will - Thursday, Jun 18, 09 @ 10:34 am: == A month-to-month budget? Why don’t we just check the couch cushions for change or see if we can sell our CDs at the used record store? == Word, thx for another hardly LOL on a Thursday morning! - Yellow Dog Democrat - Thursday, Jun 18, 09 @ 10:41 am: === After gaining power in Illinois, the Party in Power has shut down effective bipartisanship. They can’t turn around now, and use the GOP, just as they use state workers, the homeless, foster children, retirees, and other groups as human shields. Their inactions speak louder than their actions. === Vanillaman - WHOSE inactions? By my count, Democrats have put FOUR different budget proposals on the table: - The governor’s introduced plan; - The Senate Democratic plan; - The House’s modified version of the Governor’s plan; - The budget recently passed by the General Assembly. We’re what — three months since the Governor’s budget address? — and the Republicans have yet to offer a specific list of what they’d like to see cut in the Governor’s budget, nor how they propose we pay for what remains. We’ve heard the Republicans call for pension reform, with atleast three different estimates of how much it would “save” taxpayers, but when pension reform was up for a vote, not a single Republican supported it. We’ve heard Republicans claim that Medicaid “reform” would save taxpayers anywhere from $500 million to $3 billion a year, with nothing to back it up, while a bipartisan panel says it would save AT MOST $95 million. And now, with the Doomsday clock ticking, what’s the Republican plan? A call for bold action? Nope. They want Quinn to spend money the state doesn’t have and kick the can down the road for six months. - wordslinger - Thursday, Jun 18, 09 @ 10:41 am: –We could erase barriers that prevent same sex couples from adopting,== YDD, are there such barriers? There are many same-sex adoptive parents in my neighborhood. - pmels - Thursday, Jun 18, 09 @ 10:45 am: How many of those four budgets did the democrats led Senate, Assembly and Governor’s Office enact into law, Yellow. The voters gave this state to you guys, they did not want Republican proposals. Stop blaming your guys’ ineptitude on others. Instead, do what the voters asked you to do, pass a budget that can be enacted into law. - Rich Miller - Thursday, Jun 18, 09 @ 10:46 am: Enough. The problem is now, not last month. Move along. Last and final warning. - Bluefish - Thursday, Jun 18, 09 @ 10:50 am: Does anyone have the bill numbers for the budget that Cross and Radogno introduced that balances the budget, prevents cuts to social services and does it without a tax increase? I can’t seem to find it on the General Assembly’s website. It has to be there somewhere because if it isn’t I would expect those two to be pretty silent at this point. - Leroy - Thursday, Jun 18, 09 @ 10:53 am: Why isn’t anyone talking about taxing services anymore? Did the law firm lobby kill that one? - Bill - Thursday, Jun 18, 09 @ 11:00 am: If you really want to know how to balance the budget without these draconian cuts or raising taxes just Sen. Matt Murphy. He is all over the media saying he knows how to do it. He just won’t tell anybody. - Captain Flume - Thursday, Jun 18, 09 @ 11:02 am: Nice how the Dems could shrug off responsibility for the state budget when they have controlled both chambers and the Governorship for so many years, then blame the Repubs for not responding appropriately. The Dems are masters of getting people to believe that this budget impasse is not their fault. Great PR. So many are buying it hook, line, and sinker that there should be no wonder how they maintain those majorities with so little to show for it. (I am no Repub fan either, that party stumbles from one election to the next, winning whatever it wins more by acccident and inertia than action.) But for the Dems not to approve a tax increase because they don’t want it to be a “Democrat only” increase shows a real lack of individual character. If a tax increase is the right thing to do as a workable and necessary solution to balancing the budget, then do it. If it is not the solution, then openly talk about what the solution is or could be. If there are not 59+ House Dems in agreement with raising the state income and other taxes, then maybe the public also should have good cause to believe that a tax increase as a balanced budget solution is not in the best interest of the state. - Legaleagle - Thursday, Jun 18, 09 @ 11:04 am: Income tax receipts always bounce up and down depending on the economy. Where is the rainy day fund that the majority surely set up over the last six years to mitigate these bounces? - Jimbo - Thursday, Jun 18, 09 @ 11:04 am: Could to Republican desire to kick this down the road for 6 months be because they think a large tax increase in 2010 will improve their chances in the election as opposed to one now that will be a more distant memory by election time? - Secret Square - Thursday, Jun 18, 09 @ 11:07 am: Has ANYONE, Democrat or Republican, really, seriously called for canceling all “pork” spending? That seems like a perfectly reasonable idea in times as desperate as these. Now I realize that not all “pork” projects are necessarily wasteful; well-maintained roads, parks, public buildings, etc. are good and many member intiatives are for legitimate projects. However, I can’t think of any that couldn’t wait another year or two. - Rich Miller - Thursday, Jun 18, 09 @ 11:10 am: ===Has ANYONE, Democrat or Republican, really, seriously called for canceling all “pork” spending?=== No. - Tom Joad - Thursday, Jun 18, 09 @ 11:18 am: I cannot understand Senator Radogno’s statement that Quinn’s position that state services will have to be cut if there is no tax increase is “immoral.” Isn’t not passing a tax increase more “immoral” since the budget has to be cut without it. I think Rodogno should stop considering her position in moral and immoral terms. There is enough of both to go around. - Secret Square - Thursday, Jun 18, 09 @ 11:21 am: Thanks Rich. Now, looking at the Rockefeller report, I see why states like California, Michigan, and NY are so desperate… their income tax revenues are down WAY more than ours. I’m frankly suprised ours are ONLY down 10.7 percent as it is. The moral of that story is not to put all your revenue eggs in one basket or rely too heavily on any one type of taxation. Why not tax services as well as retail sales, in return for a smaller income tax hike? The broader-based your taxes are, the smaller they need to be to raise the amount of revenue needed. - pmels - Thursday, Jun 18, 09 @ 11:24 am: Looking present, Michael Madigan chose not to whip the vote for Quinn’s proposal (motivations better addressed elsewhere), and has given the Republican some responsibility for fixing this mess. (He has not given them responsibility for causing it.) Nonetheless, the Republicans remain a minority party and are in a much weaker position because the Democrats need only a few Republican dissenters while the Republicans would need several to pass a potential proposed budget. That combined with the fact that on election day, the voters collectively communicated that they want Democrats to lead our state continues to leave the responsibility for proposing a passable budget on the Democrats. They have deferred absolute responsibility for passing it, so they should now be more willing to listening to the Republicans rather than attacking them. On the bright side, they appear to be talking to GOP leaders, on the down side, there does not appear to be any SERIOUS effort to incorporate the Republicans interest in SERIOUS pension reform (not to be confused with joke pension reform). Hope that complies with your requirements, Rich. Thanks for providing the platform. - just sayin - Thursday, Jun 18, 09 @ 11:46 am: You said it. The Tribune finally has gone off the deep end. Everyone knows the GOP has no plan of their own. While Tom Cross certainly has no adversion to tax and spend (he’s done plenty of it), his only “strategy” going into 2010 is hoping the Dems raise the income tax so he can use it as a campaign issue in the most dishonest way possible. Sure, the GOP has no plan of their own. And sure, those Republicans will be happy to go cut the ribbons and get their pics in the local paper regarding some new project funded by the new revenue. They’ll be happy to take all the credit on the upside. But then guys like Cross will have no problem going out the next day and demonizing the Dems for raising the income tax. The sales taxes Tom Cross helped raise last month are all wonderful of course. So is the video poker he helped pass last month. - MOON - Thursday, Jun 18, 09 @ 11:55 am: QUESTION For all of you who claim that the Dems. had the votes to pass a tax increase and should have, would you now take it out on them in the next election had they done so? If a tax increase is needed and GOP will not sign on to it are they not just as guilty as the DEMS. for putting politics before the “well being of the citizens”? Face the fact: this is politics and the game never changes, just the names! - Concerned Observer - Thursday, Jun 18, 09 @ 12:09 pm: I don’t know who’s rallying in front of the Thompson Center right now, but they’re putting on a heck of a show. Largest rally I’ve seen there in months. - 815Sox - Thursday, Jun 18, 09 @ 12:59 pm: Anyone who thinks foster parents are making money off of kids is either an idiot or a pyscho client who’s kids we have removed. Often foster parents are chipping in some of their own money to help raise the kid. True Observer, your comment is rooted in ignorance and its people like you that are part of the problem. You are totally unable to understand the problems of others or very misinformed but you think you know it all, that is a dangerous combination. - Ghost - Thursday, Jun 18, 09 @ 1:47 pm: === Many natural parents work very hard to get their kids back and should do so. But the federal money stream is towards foster care not reunification. ==== ROFL. The system currently in place stresses reunification far over the best interests of the children, and the inadequate funding in the system is a discouragement. Natural parents do not have to work hard at all to get their kids back, the neuseating reality is all they have to do is provide a place to live with water and electricity, show the ability to support the family (a job) and thats it, attend a coupl counseling sessions and thats it! If you can barely provide for basic survival needs your are deemed a fit parent. - SouthernGirl - Thursday, Jun 18, 09 @ 2:46 pm: Listen up folks, this is very real. In the metro-east there will be literally hundreds of laid off employees. There are going to be thousands of people who won’t get any money to keep them from homelessness, who can’t be hospitalized if they are suicidal, and who are kicked out of residential placement because there isn’t any money to pay for their care. Think it’s a trick? Try reading the papers. It is happening right this minute, and it is like a huge train wreck. What’s the guarantee that if the cuts are made the money will come back when a budget is passed? My guess is slim to none. Way to lead, Madigan, Cross and Quinn. I am so not impressed by your inaction and the fact that you are allowing a vital safety net to implode. all the politicians think getting votes after passing a tax increase is bad. Ha. Wait until the entire social service system is shut down and grandmothers aren’t getting their Meals on Wheels and grand kids can’t go to early childhood education. The backlash is going to knock their poll numbers into the stone age. - ChampaignDweller - Thursday, Jun 18, 09 @ 4:24 pm: Our newspaper has an article today about Lincoln’s Challenge being cut and probably having to either close or lay off many workers; and yet they’re in line for a large capital improvement–how nuts is that? - Marge Berglind, Child Care Assoc - Thursday, Jun 18, 09 @ 4:26 pm: I’d be thrilled for a public debate on adoption, reunification and fedeal reimbursement policies on another day. Today, however, foster care programs are shutting down. Given the program closure notices of DCFS of the past week, the agencies serving foster children are already laying off and terminating caseworkers, and it is becoming hard for DCFS to find homes for any abused children coming into care today. Agencies are not waiting until after July or some date in the summer to “shut down.” They are already dismantling care. Foster parents highlight the bind we have now put our foster children into. It’s very real. - Rich Miller - Thursday, Jun 18, 09 @ 4:29 pm: ChampaignDweller, one reason is that your GOP state Rep. voted for the tax hikes and fee hikes and gaming expansion to fund the Lincoln’s Challenge capital improvements, and voted against the tax hike to fund its operation. - 815Sox - Thursday, Jun 18, 09 @ 7:42 pm: Ghost, I don’t know whats so funny but you said: “ROFL. The system currently in place stresses reunification far over the best interests of the children, and the inadequate funding in the system is a discouragement.” Hate to break it too you but you are flat out wrong. The entire system is built around serving the best interests of the child. In fact, the guiding principle of the court decisions must be based on the kids best interest. All of my work as a case worker is also guided by this. I am legally required to do this. Of course reunification is stressed. This is a measure taking to make sure that we do not keep kids in care too long. This saves us all money. Illinois is ranked 50th in terms of length of kids in foster care. Next time before you comment, please make sure you know what you are talking about. - 815Sox - Thursday, Jun 18, 09 @ 7:48 pm: Ghost again wrong: “Natural parents do not have to work hard at all to get their kids back, the neuseating reality is all they have to do is provide a place to live with water and electricity, show the ability to support the family (a job) and thats it, attend a coupl counseling sessions and thats it!” Nope. The parent has to correct the condition in which brought the kid into care. So if they are addicts they have to receive treatment and sober up. If the kids were brought into care because of the parents mental illness, then they have to show that they can properly manage the illness. If they are living with an abusive paramour who will not stop this pattern of abuse then they must move away and receive therapy for D.V. “If you can barely provide for basic survival needs your are deemed a fit parent. ” Only if your child was brought in because you are unable to meet minimum parenting standards (food, education, shelter, clothing etc) Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.