The governor giveth, the governor taketh away
Thursday, Nov 10, 2011 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Subscribers know far more details about this, but Kurt Erickson’s story is right. There’s a deal on the table right now to avoid immediate facility closures and layoffs. However, there’s a catch…
As part of an 11th-hour budget agreement being brokered with lawmakers, Quinn would agree to close four state developmental centers and two mental health facilities within the next 2 ½ years, rather than shut down seven facilities next month.
* More details of the eventual closings…
While not explicitly targeting the Jacksonville Developmental Center, a “rebalancing initiative” being put forward by the governor outlines a plan to close up to four developmental centers and at least two mental health facilities in the next two-and-a-half years. It would also move at least 600 residents of developmental centers into community settings. […]
The plan involves selecting one of the state’s eight developmental centers for closure and halting admissions. Assessment of all residents and development of transition care plans would begin in December and 20 residents a month would be transferred starting in January until the first developmental center is able to be closed. The process would then repeat until up to four centers are closed.
* But the plan to eventually close those facilities is not being well-received by some…
For state Rep. Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro, the potential deal could be a double-edged sword. Although the Murphysboro youth center could be spared, it could put the Choate Developmental Center in Anna in the cross-hairs for future closure.
“It’s frustrating. This has been the way Quinn works. He tests the wind and then changes his mind. We need a leader,” Bost said.
State Sen. John O. Jones, R-Mount Vernon, said Quinn’s actions were similar to former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who also threatened to close facilities.
“What is he thinking? He is doing a great job of following Rod Blagojevich’s lead, threatening Vandalia and Pontiac twice, and now he’s responded with two poorly executed closure plans,” Jones said. […]
“Governor Quinn is under fire for his irresponsible push to cut mental health care, force people with severe developmental disabilities out of the homes they have chosen, and destroy thousands of middle-class jobs,” said AFSCME spokesman Anders Lindall. “Spreading that pain out over the coming years doesn’t make it any less wrong.”
So, the big question now is whether the deal to keep facilities open and provide funding for shorted programs elsewhere in the budget is endangered by the deal to close state facilities down the road. Stay tuned.
- Ball is back in their court - Thursday, Nov 10, 11 @ 9:35 am:
The governor is doing the right thing by giving everyone an opportunity to provide input. Edgar closed facilities and people were left on the street. People like Bost need to quit whining and come up with solutions.
- The Arc - Thursday, Nov 10, 11 @ 9:50 am:
Most people fully support the closing of obsolete state institutions. Where are their voices in your coverage?
- gathersno - Thursday, Nov 10, 11 @ 9:54 am:
All eight developmental centers should be closed, but in a planned and thoughtful process. Legislators with these obsolete facilities in their districts, along with AFSCME, will always oppose closure because their concerns are with jobs rather than what’s best for individuals with developmental disabilities.
- bored now - Thursday, Nov 10, 11 @ 10:02 am:
i will continue to demand that facilities be closed FIRST in those districts whose members of the general assembly are arguing that the state government cut back expenses severely, without further borrowing in the markets. they have basically given us carte blanche to close facilities in their districts, even though they are hypocritically arguing NIMBY now. let’s show them the tough love they demand — close those facilities now…
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Thursday, Nov 10, 11 @ 10:16 am:
I’m with bored now.
What’s frustrating is not Governor Quinn’s leadership, its the misleadership of lawmakers like Bost who rail against wasteful spending, refuse to provide state government with the revenues needed to enact a responsible budget, and then stand in the way of efforts to make the delivery of services through state government more efficient.
The Southern Illinoisan should tell him he can’t have it both ways.
- Wickedred - Thursday, Nov 10, 11 @ 10:22 am:
Finally, there is common sense talk about doing things in a responsible manner. You just can’t say people with disabilities should be moved into the community and have it be done. There is no magic placement wand.
Guardians should have a say in what is the right placement for their child or sibling.
I truly hope that legislators comethrough, as well as Quinn, and treat the disabled with some dignity and real choice. That’s what the people I serve deserve.
- walkinfool - Thursday, Nov 10, 11 @ 10:26 am:
Make the hard decisions, then stick with them. Otherwise we make no progress at all.
If it makes sense to close facilities over 2 years rather than all at once, then that is an implementation plan which might work best, but stick with the closures decided upon.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Nov 10, 11 @ 10:40 am:
I don’t have enough knowledge about the particulars to know what if any facilities should be closed.
I do know the sole criteria should be quality of care, not jobs, party affiliation, or politics.
- Plutocrat03 - Thursday, Nov 10, 11 @ 11:11 am:
To argue that the state should close a facility for reasons other than reasons of care or public need is disgusting.
That attitude shows one of the root causes of the failures of our governmental system.
- zatoichi - Thursday, Nov 10, 11 @ 11:28 am:
It is very easy to say just close them all. Talk with family members who are very glad the state facilities exist because they do provide needed services for their family member. There is a benefit to having a large number of staff available to help as needed. There are people living in state facilities who could do well in the community, with the right services. Others will cost far more than current state facility average. Should everyone have an opportunity for a community spot? Sure. They should also have an opportunity for a very high level of service in a state facility if that is what they need. That Nimby issue swings multiple ways. Don’t close and where do people move to? Are the proponents of complete closure willing to let any of the men and women living in state ops move into their home or next door? I have a group home two houses from me. Great neighbors. Another group home in town has regular police visits. It all depends on the mix of people and circumstances.
- King Louis XVI - Thursday, Nov 10, 11 @ 11:43 am:
Bost and others get hung on their “cut, cut, cut” message petard. Good.
- steve schnorf - Thursday, Nov 10, 11 @ 1:33 pm:
Hey, Ball, which facilities did Edgar close? My memory fails me.
- Wickedred - Thursday, Nov 10, 11 @ 1:54 pm:
He closed Meyer. I remember that one, early in my years.
- steve schnorf - Thursday, Nov 10, 11 @ 2:26 pm:
No, it was converted to a women’s correctional facility. And Meyer was a short term not chronic care facility, so whoever went there was back out pretty quickly regardless of whether the facility closed or not.