Chicago business and labor leaders have joined United Way of Metropolitan Chicago in calling for an end to the months-long state budget impasse.
In a press event on October 19, Paul La Schiazza, President of AT&T Illinois and Jorge Ramirez, President of the Chicago Federation of Labor, joined United Way President and CEO, Wendy DuBoe, in calling for a resolution to the now 4-month long budget stalemate. New results from a survey of more than 500 human service agencies conducted by United Way of Illinois show the further deterioration of the human services sector and the citizens it serves. The event was held at Access Living, one of the many human service agencies in the region that has been impacted as a result of the state budget impasse.
“These survey results highlight the impact of the budget stalemate on children, families and entire communities,” said Wendy DuBoe, President and CEO of United Way of Metropolitan Chicago, “As the largest private funder of human services in the region, United Way of Metropolitan Chicago has a responsibility to bring people from across sectors together to urge Illinois lawmakers to come to a resolution.”
Key findings from the survey show that children, low-income families and the mentally ill continue to suffer the effects of inaction in Springfield.
• 84% of respondents have cut the number of clients they serve (up from 34% in July)
• 79% of respondents have cut programs, most impacting children and working adults
“The labor movement works every day through organizations like the United Way and its partners to help those in need, but it’s no substitute for the safety net our government is morally obligated to provide through the social contract,” said Jorge Ramirez, President of the Chicago Federation of Labor, “The delay in resolving the state budget marginalizes the most vulnerable segment of our society. Irreparable harm is being done to programs that support adult education and employment. It threatens our state’s economic viability and is counterproductive to the state’s economic interests.”
Survey findings also highlight the measures that human service agencies reported taking to maintain operations and serve clients during the stalemate.
• 31% of respondents have one month or less of cash reserves
o 8% of agencies have already utilized their full cash reserves
• 25% of agencies have tapped into lines of credit, and of those, 58% are more than $50,000 in debt as a result of the impasse
• 22% of agencies have been forced to layoff staff
“Without a budget resolution, human service organizations are tapping into cash reserves, exhausting their reserves in some cases and finding it necessary to take out lines of credit. Further, the impasse is forcing them to layoff staff and reduce hours,” said Paul La Schiazza, president, AT&T Illinois, “I’m not picking sides or casting any blame. However, to help people and families in need – and the human service agencies that are struggling to support them—Illinois needs a state budget resolution soon.”
This is the second survey conducted by United Way of Illinois on the state budget stalemate. The survey was conducted September 28-October 2 2015, and responses were received from 544 human services agencies across every county in Illinois. Survey respondents represented a range of service categories including youth development, early childhood education, mental health, emergency housing, senior services and employment training, and varied in budget size from less than $500,000 to more than $15 million.
- PublicServant - Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 2:38 pm:
Heck of a job, Raunie!
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 2:41 pm:
HBO - “Dad’s Home State” - Season 1, Episode 80.
Diana reads about United Way’s survey results on social services, asks her state employee to get hard copy. Bruce says to the press he only needs 90 more days for things to really break so don’t worry. Lance tweets a picture of his overflowing garbage can at the JRTC, Goldberg writes a letter to Jim Edgar. Comedy, 63 minutes.
- Anon221 - Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 2:43 pm:
From TaxExemptWorld’s website
http://www.taxexemptworld.com/organizations/illinois.asp
Number of Non-Profit Organizations Total: 101,238
Total Assets:$299,855,614,704
Total Income:$207,121,686,222
Highest Asset Amount: $13,398,445,743
Average Assets: $8,953,311
Highest Income Amount: $35,449,005,863
Average Income Amount: $6,342,393
*****
Now, granted, a lot of some of these non-profits rely on grants and contracts, and not all of them fall into the category of this article. However, I doubt that much of the money that comes into them goes out of state, unlike some of the major companies that reside in Illinois. I’m sure there is a dollar generator study out there somewhere that shows the dollar return on investment to the non-profit sector. These non-profits ARE businesses. So, to weaken them, weakens Illinois. Unfortunately, something DCEO won’t kick about.
- @MisterJayEm - Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 2:46 pm:
He doesn’t even care when the suffering of people and families in need is confirmed by the president of AT&T Illinois.
He.
Does.
Not.
Care.
– MrJM
- Frenchie Mendoza - Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 2:48 pm:
—
He doesn’t even care when the suffering of people and families in need is confirmed by the president of AT&T Illinois.
—
It’s just one guy’s opinion. Much like Governor Edgar.
- Anon221 - Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 2:48 pm:
…a lot of some of these? Oh boy…need more caffeine!
- walker - Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 3:05 pm:
Would IPI and AFP view this all as good news? If so, is it even a “sacrifice” in some right wingers’ minds?
- Lucky Pierre - Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 3:10 pm:
I think Senator Cullerton’s also is on record saying raises are not constitutionally protected.
- Dirty Red - Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 3:14 pm:
Wow, OW. You must read a lot of Dave Bakke columns.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 3:18 pm:
Ha! - Dirty Red -, I see what you did there…
The Governor is going to run out of people he can point to as “3rd party” support. The list of “that’s one person’s opinion” is getting longer and longer every day.
- Juvenal - Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 3:28 pm:
When it rains, it pours.
- JackD - Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 3:30 pm:
When Justice Burke was asked what could be done she said read the opinion, all of it. This possibility is not listed there. The US Supremes, in the Affordable Care Act opinion said a similar provision to get the states to accept medicare expansion was unreasonably coercive on the states. This sure looks unreasonably coercive on potential pension recipients doesn’t it?
- Wordslinger - Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 3:38 pm:
How many people have lost their jobs?
In rebuttal, the guvs office responds with the ROI, crazy with superstar charts and graphs on economic and fiscal analysis, on the justification for harming these hostages.
–”I’m not picking sides or casting any blame.”–
Rethink possible, Paul. What can possibly release the hostages?
Right?
- Norseman - Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 3:53 pm:
=== I’m not picking sides or casting any blame. ===
Translation: I need to be here because of my volunteer role with United way, but I don’t want to make Rauner angry. He might pull ATT phones from state employees and offices. (/s)
- Mama - Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 4:15 pm:
HBO - “Dad’s Home State” - Season 1, Episode 80.
OW, we need a new episode everyday. Thanks for the laugh.
- Mama - Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 4:18 pm:
“Unfortunately, something DCEO won’t kick about.”
It is my understand that ‘DCEO’ is no longer a state agency. Please correct me if I’m wrong.
- Mama - Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 4:19 pm:
“These non-profits ARE businesses. So, to weaken them, weakens Illinois.”
Someone should tell the guv.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 4:27 pm:
- Mama -, I thank you for your kind words, I hope these episodes are humorous, HBO packages them as such.
It’s a faux reality show, so when farce meets reality in the Rauner Administration, the writers, cameras, and Dave Bakke will be there.
To the Post,
When the number is 80+%, permenant damage has occurred, some irreversible. Where o where is the Diana Rauner that told “me” Bruce Rauner has no social agenda.
By having no social agenda, in Afs you were in, Mrs. Rauner, did that mean just eliminating all social services? Diana?
- DuPage Dave - Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 5:47 pm:
Anon221- the data from that web site does not separate charitable organizations from those that are service providers for the state. Only 41,843 out of the 101,238 are actual charitable organizations. Of that number my guess is that no more than 1,000 or so have any significant financial role as a state-supported service provider. The United Way poll above mentions that they surveyed 500 agencies.
Yes, the better run organizations are businesses, and have made efforts to manage their finances and act responsibly. But you can only juggle the bills for so long before things go wrong.
- Anon221 - Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 5:59 pm:
DuPage Dave-
I realize my posting was a data dump. I would encourage anyone interested to go to that site and run a search of their area. I was surprised at the number in my small county, many of which do great work with a very small budget.
My main point was, and granted not well put forward, is that Rauner is touting the need for new businesses here in Illinois, while he decimates existing businesses- the nonprofits. I would bet that for every dollar donated, contracted, or granted, that that dollar recirculates in the immediate community at least 3 times. A good return on investments in many economic models. Probably not in his curricula choices though in college.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 6:05 pm:
Quite the opposite, Norseman.
The President of AT&T didn’t “need” to be there. They could have done the press conference without him, and he wouldn’t be up there if he didn’t privately have the backing of most of the fellow CEO’s on the United Way list.
This is the Business community raising the stakes in Rauner, no question. The message is clear. He is standing next to the same guy who introduced the Archbishop at a union rally.
Fold your cards Bruce, and live to fight again another day. It is what a smart poker player would do.
- Norseman - Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 7:04 pm:
YDD, I’ve not heard anyone call him that. So the “fight” will continue.
- Wordslinger - Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 7:20 pm:
Willie, with the governor’s actions to date, it’s looking like tne promise of “no social agenda” was accurate, just grossly misinterpreted.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 7:58 pm:
===Willie, with the governor’s actions to date, it’s looking like tne promise of “no social agenda” was accurate, just grossly misinterpreted.===
Well, you have me there, don’t you? That’s on me for thinking it meant something else… My bad.
- Flynn's mom - Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 8:02 pm:
Ow, Dad’s Home State always cracks me up. I agree with Mama a daily episode would be great.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 8:13 pm:
- Flynn’s Mom -, thank you. More times than not, you can see these episodes just pop on their own.
I’m sure we’d all like to start Season 2…
- Flynn's mom - Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 9:06 pm:
OW, I don’t think there’s any money in the budget for season 2.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 9:13 pm:
- Flynn’s mom -
“Speaker Madigan and the WGA Writers he controls… “
- Flynn's mom - Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 9:56 pm:
You’re a funny guy,OW!
- Rahm the silly goose - Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 9:46 am:
If the people are really mentally ill, will they really miss the money?