Child care rescue?
Wednesday, May 9, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The 1990’s welfare reform initiative required single moms to work, so child care service was provided to help those mothers, who typically don’t make much money, cope. But when a huge hole developed in the state’s budget for child care services, a shock wave was felt throughout the state. Gov. Pat Quinn now says, however, that he may have found some extra cash between some couch cushions…
“We’ve located about $73 million in the budget that will not be spent on the original purpose this year, so we’re going to reallocate that money for the child care subsidy to make sure that working moms and dads have the subsidy they need in order to go to work and make sure their kids are well taken care of,” Quinn said Tuesday.
Officials with Quinn’s budget office said the money will come from a fund originally set aside to pay Medicare premiums.
The proposal is under review by Democratic leaders. A spokeswoman for Senate President John Cullerton of Chicago said he is also open to alternatives, but warned that “the solution will demand a consensus.”
A spokeswoman for House Republican Leader Tom Cross said he wants to work to solve the child care funding shortfall and is examining the proposal.
* While welcome news, the governor’s continued rebuff to those wanting to generate new revenues through gaming expansion is just plain silly…
Quinn warned lawmakers against getting distracted by the gambling push, which happens almost every year near the end of the spring session, saying they need to keep their “eye on the prize.”
“We have very, very high priorities in restructuring Medicaid and reforming our pension system and getting a good budget. So, we don’t want to get distracted here,” Quinn said following an appearance at Soldier Field for the opening of the Special Olympics spring games. “I think we’ve got to keep our eye on the prize, and the prize is complete restructuring and reform of two programs that need fundamental overhaul.”
Quinn’s comments came in response to a rally by labor leaders in Chicago urging support for a gambling bill that would bring casinos to Chicago and four other locations across the state. Union groups say the proposal would create thousands of much-needed jobs in Illinois. The gambling expansion was passed by lawmakers last year but stalled after Quinn threatened to veto the bill because it also would allow slot machines at horse racing tracks.
Since then, pro-gambling lawmakers have been trying to work out a deal that would appease horse track owners. Prospects for a gambling expansion likely would improve after the November election, when lame-duck legislators might be more willing to vote for it.
The state needs that money now, governor. Are you really willing to kill off social service functions because you don’t want people to gamble at the track? Dude, no offense, but people are already gambling at the track.
- Dan Shields, Springfield, IL - Wednesday, May 9, 12 @ 10:24 am:
Why is the Gov at Soldier Field while the Legislature is in session at the Capitol in Springfield?
- downstate hack - Wednesday, May 9, 12 @ 10:49 am:
The Governor has already raised my taxes 60%, and the State is still broke. Why the hell would he not consider a gambling bill and slots at the tracks that wouls also produce jobs for the Illinois horse racing industry?
- wordslinger - Wednesday, May 9, 12 @ 11:06 am:
Keep looking in those cushions, governor.
It’s tough enough for two working parents to hold down good-paying jobs and to deal with and pay for daycare.
The years before my kids went to school full-time were the toughest and most nerve-wracking in my wife and my lives. Getting the kids ready to go, the drop-offs, the pickups, making arrangements when the kids are sick, or when the daycare provider is sick….
You feel like you’re short-changing your kids, your job and spending a lot of money to do so.
I can’t imagine what it’s like for a single-parent making very little money.
- Coach - Wednesday, May 9, 12 @ 11:11 am:
Gov. Quinn lets be a team player here and not an individual player! Why wouldn’t you want to add 20,000 more jobs for the state of Illinois and their people; why wouldn’t want to keep 30,000 jobs in the horse racing industry for the people of Illinois, why wouldn’t you want to have 1.7 billion dollars to pay off old debts for the people of Illinois, why wouldn’t you want to take in 800 million dollars each year and put towards the pension debts you owe for the people of Illinois! Why Gov. Quinn the reason is your all about you and not the team - people of Illinois! The people of Illinois is for this bill 1849 65% to 35%! But yet you are controlled by the current casinos not to approve this bill! I just don’t understand why our top official choose not to be a team player! It is not too late to be that Team Player Gov. Quinn for the people of Illinois!
- Ahoy! - Wednesday, May 9, 12 @ 11:25 am:
I’ve been impressed with the Governor this session with coming out with proposals and working with the legislature.
His position on this gambling expansion this is just plain dumb, it really makes no sense at all and I continue to be baffled by his attempt to rationalize. At least people who oppose gambling are consistent. He is off the charts goofy on this issue.
- The Real Coach - Wednesday, May 9, 12 @ 11:29 am:
I’d respectfully ask the commenter at 11:11 a.m. to choose a different handle. I’ve been using “Coach” on this blog (albeit infrequently) for a couple years.
As to the governor’s motive, I’ve heard from several folks involved in this issue that it boils down to his deep-seated hatred of Duchossois (a longtime and bigtime GOP donor), simple as that.
- Waffle Fries - Wednesday, May 9, 12 @ 11:35 am:
I’d throw some of the $700 million in tax loopholes that the RBC has identified into the discussion.
If we’re talking about yanking people’s healthcare are these loopholes still too sacred to touch?
- Sir Reel - Wednesday, May 9, 12 @ 11:38 am:
Gambling, along with entrance fees to State Parks, and other such ideas, is voluntary taxation. Given the outrage over the involuntary income tax increase, why would anyone oppose voluntary taxation?
And why worry about how many casinos there are? They can be regulated like bars. Local ordinances regulate where bars can be located, and even, if there can be bards (dry communities), but generally not how many bars there are. That’s the job of the market. The same could apply to casinos. Regulate where they can be, but not how many. If there’s too many, some will fail. The current method, which rations the total number of licenses and purports to “help” disadvantaged communities, is a fertile ground for political mischief.
- Sir Reel - Wednesday, May 9, 12 @ 11:39 am:
Oops. Bars, not bards (Shakespearian slip).
- downstate hack - Wednesday, May 9, 12 @ 11:49 am:
“As to the governor’s motive, I’ve heard from several folks involved in this issue that it boils down to his deep-seated hatred of Duchossois (a longtime and bigtime GOP donor), simple as that.”
If that is correct Quinn is a disgrace, much like Blago, putting personal feelings and political considerations ahead of single moms, medicare recipients, and the Illinois taxpayers. He should be ashamed.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, May 9, 12 @ 11:50 am:
===I’ve heard from several folks involved in this issue that it boils down to his deep-seated hatred of Duchossois===
I wrote about that months ago. PQ denies it, but I think it does play a role here.
- cermak_rd - Wednesday, May 9, 12 @ 11:50 am:
I know this may be unpopular, but in the context of worrying about continuing treatment for HIV infected people, does the state really need to provide child care subsidies? I know it will inconvenience people to have to provide care on their own. Not everyone has nana or aunts, uncles or cousins available. But when weighed against a death sentence for folks needing care, I would say this end of the scale is lighter.
- Brook Jacoby - Wednesday, May 9, 12 @ 12:02 pm:
Also, one has to believe the huge contributions from Neil Bluhm and various Pritzker family members to Quinn plays a role in the Governor protecting their casinos’ take.
- Plutocrat03 - Wednesday, May 9, 12 @ 12:46 pm:
More overblown promises of revenue and jobs from the proponents of gambling expansion. Perhaps PQ recognizes the silliness of theses claims.
Gambling may be a fun diversion, but produces nothing for the economy while diverting money from from restaurants, theaters etc.
What is the harm in proceeding moderately in an expansion? If the expansion of gambling into horse racing tracks is a roadblock, then fight that battle another day. Move forward on what you can do and drop the all or nothing mentality.
- Southern Peggy R - Wednesday, May 9, 12 @ 12:54 pm:
Where are the fathers and other relatives of these children who can care for them while mom works or who can help foot the bill for childcare if mom must work? Or if mom and dad were married mom could stay home until kids are in school. Many families do that and do with out a lot of extras in order to do so.
- Freeman - Wednesday, May 9, 12 @ 1:13 pm:
I would have preferred the Governor go looking in the couch cushions to “find” that money before this became a large media story scaring children, workers and families around the state.
This brings to mind the many theories (and even a few media stories) that Gov. Quinn sometimes allows crises to draw out a bit and make their way into the media so he can ride in to “solve” the problem. Unfortunately, it just reminds people that he helped create these problems in the first place.
Seems unnecessary and perhaps even a bit cruel.
- Team Sleep - Wednesday, May 9, 12 @ 1:45 pm:
Word, my wife and I are going through the same thing right now. It is very nerve-wracking - and expensive.
Peggy, while I am quite socially and fiscally conservative, I disagree with you. This program is one of the few that actually helps better people’s lives by allowing parents to either hold down a job or return to school or both. It’s akin to a government investment that allows a parent or parents to contribute to (or work towards contributing to) society. In this day and age, there aren’t too many couples who can afford to have one parent stay home - even part-time. And is it really palatable for a single parent to ask relatives to either fund daycare costs or watch kids? Not everyone is lucky enough to have a parent who can watch grandkids or a neighbor who watches kids for a steep discount.
- Small Town Liberal - Wednesday, May 9, 12 @ 2:15 pm:
Southern Peggy R - Way to not so subtly say that these folks don’t deserve help because they don’t meet your expectations of morality. Must be nice to live in the perfect world in your head.
- The REAL Anonymous fka Anonymous - Wednesday, May 9, 12 @ 2:40 pm:
I have to agree with Team Sleep. As a divorced mother with just my income (no child support),which at the time was thankfully enough to take care of my family’s needs, the tasks of finding and being able to maintain quality and safe daycare for your child while you work represent only a small and extremely difficult portion of an even tougher, although highly rewarding job–even when you can afford it.
With crimes against children on the rise, leaving our State’s and Nation’s most vulnerable little ones on their own will have long-term, negative rammifications that will impact future generations of Americans.
- Robert - Wednesday, May 9, 12 @ 2:47 pm:
Some really wishful thinking: Governor Quinn will be willing to make a deal. He’ll okay gambling expansion in exchange for legislators passing either pension reform or the cigarette tax hike?
- The REAL Anonymous fka Anonymous - Wednesday, May 9, 12 @ 2:55 pm:
And as some mentioned the topic of parents going back to school while their children are in daycare:
With stats showing that more than a quarter of defaults on school loans now sit with those under 30–not only due to unemployment and underemployment, but also because many students are paying for degrees that have little or no economic value in today’s workforce, officials should focus more on raising awareness re: the latter and job creation–rather than protecting their “special interests” and their own pockets.
I’d guess it’s tough enough as it is to work hard to pursue a degree while raising children and trying to work, but to finally graduate to only find out your degree means zip in helping to provide for your famiily long-term must be devastating.
- bigdaddygeo - Wednesday, May 9, 12 @ 9:00 pm:
PQ will make a deal to expand gaming. Adding another (pick a number) $1.5 billion into the budget will take the pressure off changing pensions and medicaid. He, Madigan, Cullerton and the other members have already started to take the heat from constituents. All downside and no upside - his core voters will stay angry.
Track owners could be the least sympathetic interest group in the state (at least until you ask the coin operators). String them along for awhile because they won’t close tracks before the slot machine payday.
Oh, and I think The Real Coach is right, too.
- steve schnorf - Wednesday, May 9, 12 @ 10:36 pm:
I would only caution that we need to be really careful about using any one-time revenue sources to fund ongoing spending. I don’t know if that would be the case here or not.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, May 9, 12 @ 11:51 pm:
–Word, my wife and I are going through the same thing right now. It is very nerve-wracking - and expensive.–
Here’s to you, brother, and yours.
There’s a tight spot of a number of years in which you’re dealing with your babies, daycare, your old-timers, their end-of-of-life situations, theirs and your mortgages, hospitals, doctors, Alzheimers, your jobs and every other g-d thing.
Now, my old-timers are gone and my kids are older and don’t need me so much. I have more time, still no money, but it’s a lot easier, believe me. And it will be a lot easier for you and your wife as well.
As hard as those times were, I was blessed to have that responsibility and I miss the feeling of exhausted satisfaction that came for knocking the ball out of the park, day in and day out, for my loved ones.
Good on you, kid.