Today’s long read
Friday, Mar 6, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* AP…
The Illinois Kids Count 2015 report, also released Thursday, found 21 percent of the state’s children were living below the federal poverty line in 2013 — a rate that held steady from the previous year.
The report’s authors say the rate remains higher than prerecession figures, blaming long-term economic issues for prolonging the problem. Meanwhile, they say deep cuts proposed by Rauner during his budget address last month would be “very harmful.” Areas of concern identified by the group include more changes to the state’s already underfunded child care program and Medicaid cuts that could close hospitals. […]
The report from Voices for Illinois Children cites the effects past cuts to state funding have had on programs intended to mitigate the effects of poverty. Joseph warned that possible future cuts would only exacerbate problems for low-income families.
“If they’re not below the poverty level now, it would make it more likely they would slip into poverty,” he said.
Click here to read the full report.
- How Ironic - Friday, Mar 6, 15 @ 12:22 pm:
I would literally not be surprised if Rauner/Arduain tried to lower the age where children can be employed in Illinois. That way, these poor wretches can ‘get a job’ and keep off the assistance programs.
Right after he crushes the unions, so there isn’t any voice.
Sadly, I don’t think he cares one lick for these families or their children. To him they are simply a burden, siphoning off potential profits (tax $$).
- sideline watcher - Friday, Mar 6, 15 @ 12:35 pm:
Quinn’s biggest failure was demanding that the increase be temporary. We needed it then. We need it now. Period. It should have been 6 percent and permanent, while we worked to pass a graduated income tax just like all our neighboring states. We wouldn’t even be having this debate now. Those who believe in the absolute incompetency of government would still be screaming about some other danger of government and predicting the same gloom they always do like they have since the beginning of time. But we wouldn’t be kicking kids out of childcare and turning our backs on the vulnerable and calling cuts reform. There’s no reform about it. They are cuts. They are cruel. And everyone needs to know about it.
- anon - Friday, Mar 6, 15 @ 12:39 pm:
SW, the dems should have done a better job running the state the past 12 years. If Blago had actually worked instead of staying home, reading books and scheming, we would see a very different IL.
- slow down - Friday, Mar 6, 15 @ 1:29 pm:
We can’t be bothered with pesky things like childhood poverty, we’re too busy shaking up Springfield!
- BobH - Friday, Mar 6, 15 @ 1:33 pm:
Its the kids own fault! They should have gotten themselves born into a hedge fund manager`s family. Or a billionaire heir to a hotel fortune.
- low level - Friday, Mar 6, 15 @ 1:35 pm:
Get a job! And perhaps Diana Rauner can explain how her husbands budget will help this problem.
Some moderate he’s turning out to be.
- Stones - Friday, Mar 6, 15 @ 1:39 pm:
As Marie Antoinette said - “Let them eat cake”.
Just plain sad all the way around.
- anon - Friday, Mar 6, 15 @ 1:40 pm:
Better that more kids grow up in poverty than that the affluent be denied their ample tax cut. At least the GOP has its priorities straight.
- Long time listener - Friday, Mar 6, 15 @ 1:51 pm:
Next EO, get rid of the letter “g” from the alphabet. ‘overnor doesn’t need it and it would immediately save almost 4%. Memo to Arduin: see if ALEC can justify removal of “q” and “z” as well!
- BlameBruceRauner - Friday, Mar 6, 15 @ 1:57 pm:
The rhetoric from Captain Carhart of keeping up with our neighbor states suddenly doesn’t exist if we start to look at their graduated taxes. Lets be like our neighbors Bruce and graduate THE INCOME TAX. Remember “shared sacrifice” means everyone Bru(ass)ce!
- Formerly Known As... - Friday, Mar 6, 15 @ 2:01 pm:
==Or a billionaire heir to a hotel fortune.==
Or a state that has done a better job administering their budgets? 49 other states are in better $ positions than Illinois according to credit ratings.
Though being a billionaire works as well.
- anon - Friday, Mar 6, 15 @ 2:22 pm:
Somehow we seem to forget, or ignore, the terrible job the dems have done running the state and managing the finances the last 12 years.
FKA is correct. Let’s look at how we got here and look at what is needed to correct this terrible mess. We aren’t the US government who can just print money and add 8+ trillion to the debt in 6 years. Tough decisions have to be made.
- How Ironic - Friday, Mar 6, 15 @ 2:47 pm:
@ Anon 2:22
…Let’s look at how we got here and look at what is needed to correct this terrible mess.”
Well, the how we got here is less of a concern, than the immediate treatment. Revenue will ‘correct’ the mess as you say. We can’t cut our obligations (Pension and past due bills). The money is spent. We need to pay it.
“We aren’t the US government who can just print money and add 8+ trillion to the debt in 6 years. Tough decisions have to be made.”
Exactly. So by taking another ‘pension’ holiday…Rauner is doing exactly what you are suggesting. Adding to the debt. We can’t cut out of this. We need to add revenue to pay the bills.
Since revenue is off the table, and not even being discussed by Van Carhart…what do you suggest?
- anon - Friday, Mar 6, 15 @ 2:56 pm:
Why did your party spend so much of the additional income tax revenue the past 4 years?
- Anonymous - Friday, Mar 6, 15 @ 2:57 pm:
==We can’t cut out of this. We need to add revenue to pay the bills.==
==what do you suggest?==
Why ask this question after making it clear only one answer is acceptable?
- Formerly Known As... - Friday, Mar 6, 15 @ 2:58 pm:
sorry, 2:57 was me
- anon - Friday, Mar 6, 15 @ 3:05 pm:
Were some of you just not aware painful cuts were forthcoming?
The credit card is maxed out and Visa is not increasing the credit limit!
- Anonymous - Friday, Mar 6, 15 @ 3:44 pm:
- Why did your party spend so much of the additional income tax revenue the past 4 years? -
Almost all of it was spent making the full pension payment. You know, the payment that Mr. Honest Budget is planning to short by $2 billion?
Moron.
- How Ironic - Friday, Mar 6, 15 @ 3:45 pm:
@Anon 2:56
“Why did your party spend so much of the additional income tax revenue the past 4 years?”
Ummmmm….making the full pension payment AND paying down the multi-billion bill backlog for $200 Alex?
Surely you’re now just pretending to be unsure of what the tax increase was used for. Right?
- anon - Friday, Mar 6, 15 @ 3:56 pm:
Well, for $300 Alex, what was the backlog of bills at 12/31/14?
And for $400 Alex, how much was raised during the 4 years from the 67% income tax increase?