Hostages plead for mercy
Thursday, May 19, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From Emily Miller at Voices for Illinois Children…
Hi Rich,
Attached you’ll find two letters-one to the Governor and one to members of the General assembly-signed by well over 150 service providers and advocacy organizations for Illinois children, families and communities.
The letter to the Governor urges him to immediately sign SB2038, which is now on his desk, and to continue working toward a complete, fully funded budget for FY16 and FY17.
The letter to members of the General Assembly urges them not to construe SB2038 as a substitute for passing a fully-funded budget for FY16 and FY17. It is not. Only a complete, fully-funded budget for both FY16 and FY17 will be considered an acceptable solution to our current budget crisis by the organizations who signed this letter.
You’ll notice that all parties are cc’ed on both letters, and that is intentional. The Governor, legislative leaders and rank and file members of the general assembly need to understand that we hold them all accountable and expect them to reach a budget agreement for FY16 and FY17 before they leave Springfield.
Thanks.
Emily Miller
* The letter to legislators…
The undersigned organizations are imploring you to end the FY16 budget impasse and to adopt a fully funded FY16 and FY17 budget before May 31. Ending one fiscal year and beginning another one without budgets will hasten the collapse of our education, public safety, and human service infrastructure. Without a budget with new revenue, thousands of people across Illinois will have no place to turn for help when they need it most, children and youth will go without opportunities to get ahead, and thousands of working parents will lose their jobs.
While we are heartened by the bipartisan cooperation that led to passage of SB2038, which would provide emergency funds for human services and public safety items, we oppose any effort to construe the passage of SB2038 as any type of budget solution. While measures like SB2038 may keep some of us open for today, the overwhelming and immediate threats to our organizations and the entire human services sector will remain until the budget impasse is ended. Layoffs and services cuts are inevitable despite SB2038 without the stability and certainty of final budgets for FY16 and FY17.
Indeed, after a year of receiving partial or no payments on state contracts, many organizations simply cannot continue to provide services in FY17 without a budget. Reserves are exhausted, lines of credit are running dry, and our boards are unwilling to let us deficit spend any longer. Decisions about leases, supply purchases, and staffing must be made. Providers throughout the state have learned the hard way that we cannot trust our leaders to end this impasse and ensure payment if we do not see a signed budget supported by adequate revenue. Even with the needed emergency cash that SB2038 may supply, many providers will still be owed for months and months of work. Services will continue to be terminated, coupled with layoffs. It is a virtual certainty that many non-profits will close their doors in the weeks and months to come if we do not find a budget solution now.
While we appreciate SB2038 and have urged the Governor to sign it, SB2038 is simply not enough and it will not prevent the human services infrastructure from continuing to be dismantled. We urge you to come together and pass a budget with adequate revenue that works for the people of Illinois before any more permanent damage is done.
Click here to see which groups signed the letter, including one run by a certain governor’s spouse.
* And here’s the letter to the governor…
We, the undersigned organizations, write to implore you to sign SB2038 as soon as it reaches your desk.
While the bill is nowhere near a final budget solution for FY16 for human services, further layoffs, services cuts and provider closures are inevitable without it. SB2038 is a lifeline that will provide temporary relief to cash-starved providers to help them continue to weather the impasse in the near future until a comprehensive budget solution for both FY16 and FY17 is found.
While measures like SB2038 will keep some of us open for today, the overwhelming and immediate threats to our organizations and the entire health and human services sector will remain until the budget impasse is ended. We need a FY17 budget and to be made whole for FY16 for the services we have provided without compensation.
We implore you to continue to work with lawmakers toward a long term responsible budget and revenue package to end Illinois’ budget crisis before May 31st, and to sign SB2038 to provide public health and human service providers the emergency cash they need today in order to save the these sectors from complete collapse.
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, May 19, 16 @ 9:23 am:
We have one branch of government sticking to demands that the other two branches of government will either pass on a very limited basis or won’t pass at all. Let’s hope that one day, political reality sets in. We can’t hold people hostage for what we can’t get.
- Delimma - Thursday, May 19, 16 @ 9:25 am:
The ONLY things preventing both sides from negotiating a budget are non-budget related demands. Those demands aren’t coming from the House or Senate.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, May 19, 16 @ 9:27 am:
===Those demands aren’t coming from the House or Senate. ===
“Both sides suffer under the delusion that it’s OK that real people get hurt as long as the other side gets blamed for it.”
- Anonymous - Thursday, May 19, 16 @ 9:30 am:
I wonder how many of those groups will decline to sign contracts this summer if once again thr governor vetoes the budget. I hope we never have to find out.
- wordslinger - Thursday, May 19, 16 @ 9:31 am:
What’s the reason for not signing the social services band-aid after the governor signed the higher ed band-aid?
Squeeze the beast some more?
- Give Me A Break - Thursday, May 19, 16 @ 9:35 am:
There is growing concern among human services providers that lawmakers and the Gov may view SB 2038 as “the FY 16 budget” for human services. If that is indeed the their opinions, the collapse of the safety net is only weeks away.
- Ole' Nelson - Thursday, May 19, 16 @ 9:37 am:
“Both sides suffer under the delusion that it’s OK that real people get hurt as long as the other side gets blamed for it.”
And will probably continue to think that way until it becomes a political reality that it is not ok. Disgusting behavior for sure.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, May 19, 16 @ 9:37 am:
===“Both sides suffer under the delusion that it’s OK that real people get hurt as long as the other side gets blamed for it.”===
Those most hurt, like those Ms. Miller represent and the 200 groups and organizations, now really don’t care who to “blame” when they are on the front lines… and are powerless to help.
When the choice becomes helping versus blaming by both sides, or enough legislators of both parties, in both chambers, then we will see compassion by this General Assembly.
There’s politics, then there’s governing. Good politics is good good government and visa versa, but when did good politics get forced to be one willing to hurt people to win the day?
That’s never been… good government.
It’s not giving in… when giving to what’s right.
Members are recognized by social service organizations often as “their champion of the year”.
It’s been almost a year, where are these “champions”?
- Echo The Bunnyman - Thursday, May 19, 16 @ 9:41 am:
Both sides are delusional. A member of “leadership” saying a budget will not happen under this Governor is outrageous. If it were not Illinois. There was an election for the Governor. The majority of voters chose to close the checkbook. The idea that compromise can be had by only one side is ridiculous. Taxes need to be raised. Major cuts need to occur. I am unsure if Rauner cares about re-election. He was voted in to “shake up Springfield” he is the guy in the chair when the music stopped. I don’t agree with him or anyone 100% of the time. But, if they can’t get reform of Workman’s comp together, it’s all political. The consolidation of schools is any easy win. The studies are all flawed as they take a school in the red with one in the black. What if the schools in the wealthier suburbs not in deficit consolidated? New Trier, Stevenson, D211 and D214 would save no money as unit districts? Really? Too simple, but too difficult for politicians…
- From the 'Dale to HP - Thursday, May 19, 16 @ 9:44 am:
Human service providers are really in a catch-22 here. Go along with the band-aid, and that’s all you’re getting and it’s not enough. And it might very well set the ‘base’ for FY17. Ouch. But not go along with it, the bills continue to pile up and the payments come in slowly… not sure what the best course of action is.
- Honeybear - Thursday, May 19, 16 @ 9:47 am:
This is the world of the perfidious callous.
Goal: Destroy social services so that responsibility for cutting them is avoided.
Achieved
Goal: Pinning blame for the destruction of social services, education, on union obstructionism.
In progress
The perfidious callous are comprised of members of both parties.
Those who took personal/vacation time yesterday showed with their presence that they care about our citizens and our state. It was labeled as a union rally but it wasn’t for our benefit that we turned out 14500. It was for the people being hurt by the perfidious callous. Half the speakers were from the ranks of the injured. The disabled woman. The woman who lost her arm serving our state. The firefighter. These were the folks help up as exemplars. It wasn’t about benefits and privilege. That is the cause of the perfidious callous who falsely claim the mantle “tax payers”. They are truly the ones fighting for “their” money, “their” privileges. That’s why only two dozen showed up for “their” rally.
You all saw the shield wall of citizens standing against the perfidious callous and their Lord.
- Delimma - Thursday, May 19, 16 @ 9:49 am:
@Rich… Ignore the blame game for a moment. Yes, it is easy to say the governor’s office is demanding things that are anathema to the democrats, and it is easy to say all the democrats need to do is a little compromise, but the crux of this problem is that a budget cannot be done regardless of agreement until… What?
The demands are all on one side. This isn’t a debate about what should be in the budget. That’s all relatively non-controversial. The only hold-up is tying other things to the budget as a precondition.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, May 19, 16 @ 9:53 am:
=== That’s all relatively non-controversial===
If you believe that billions of dollars in tax hikes are relatively non-controversial, then you need to go take a nap right away. Or get back on your meds.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, May 19, 16 @ 9:54 am:
Seriously, dude, that has to be the stupidest comment of the week. Sheesh.
- James Knell - Thursday, May 19, 16 @ 10:01 am:
Anybody that has ever been a part of a deliberative body like a board of directors or a student senate, or a model UN quickly realizes the truth of what Oswego Willy is saying. You need to respect the other side, take the votes, and move on. If you are persuasive enough, maybe your side will win the next election. Of course, this wasn’t the way it worked in the day of The Prince… which is what we got here.
- SAP - Thursday, May 19, 16 @ 10:03 am:
https://capitolfax.com/2016/05/18/madigan-no-3/ Until yesterday, I had some hope that there was room for compromise on workers’ comp. The Speaker put the kibosh on that one yesterday, destroying any hope for a way forward on a comprehensive budget. There is plenty to criticize with Governor, but this one is all on the Speaker. He does not want a budget. UGH!
- Delimma - Thursday, May 19, 16 @ 10:24 am:
Yes, billions in additional taxes might be controversial, but when both sides are under similar pressure to support those taxes, then that isn’t the issue that is preventing a budget from being negotiated.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, May 19, 16 @ 10:26 am:
===then that isn’t the issue that is preventing a budget from being negotiated===
Yes, it is. Or one of them. Look around.
- DHSJim - Thursday, May 19, 16 @ 10:40 am:
…even if that means we don’t get a budget in the near future. It’s sad. But giving in to this governor will not improve the situation. He will only want more compromises. I know elections have consequences but shame on this governor for holding the budget and the lives of the people of Illinois hostage for his non-budgetary demands.
- Jimmy H - Thursday, May 19, 16 @ 10:57 am:
Is Rauner holding SB2038 as leverage for a budget before June? Will he hold SB2038 then veto on the last day if there’s no budget? I’m not sure what he is thinking, the bill passed unanimously. Rauner said he wanted bipartisanship. Apparently only if he agrees with it…
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, May 19, 16 @ 10:57 am:
Is workers comp reform really over? Madigan has been making the same types of statements on workers comp reform for a while now (hurts the middle class), yet the House passed reform last year. It was considered very insufficient by Rauner.
- Kyle Hillman - Thursday, May 19, 16 @ 11:45 am:
Not everyone signed both letters.
- JS Mill - Thursday, May 19, 16 @ 1:18 pm:
=The consolidation of schools is any easy win. The studies are all flawed as they take a school in the red with one in the black. What if the schools in the wealthier suburbs not in deficit consolidated? New Trier, Stevenson, D211 and D214 would save no money as unit districts=
Just curious, what are you basing your statements on? While I believe there are many opportunities for school consolidation that make educational and fiscal sense, I disagree with your notion that creating districts of 20,000 students will provide an educational or fiscal benefit. There is a point where a district becomes too big to function efficiently because of the enormous administrative structure required and, die to the size is distant and out of touch from the true priorities of the district.
- crazybleedingheart - Thursday, May 19, 16 @ 2:52 pm:
==Not everyone signed both letters.==
+1
I’m not sure if anyone signed only the GA letter, but the one to the Gov has an additional page of signatories.
- 13th - Thursday, May 19, 16 @ 5:50 pm:
there was a quick turn around time to sign letters, so if ED was out of office, that organization may not had time to sign on, even though they most likely wanted to
- James - Thursday, May 19, 16 @ 7:12 pm:
Sending a letter to the GA urging them to negotiate must have pleased the Governors. (Yes, I realize you’re trying to be evenhanded or nonpolitical). Part of the Governor’s strategy is to divide Democrats. ADo you want Democratic leadership to sell out the unions and higher education, so you can get what you are accustomed to? Democrats must stand together–we are all
- Who Else - Friday, May 20, 16 @ 8:56 am:
- James - Thursday, May 19, 16 @ 7:12 pm:
In Illinois, you don’t even have to try that hard to be “evenhanded,” and the letters are not contrived. There is legitimate blame that can be scattered all over this state, both for getting to where we are and for refusing to move past it.
More importantly, though, you seem to have forgotten what’s already happened over the course of the almost 11 months without a state budget. For you to suggest any provider is asking anyone to “sell out” so we can have “what we’re accustomed to” is revolting. People are dying, man. People. Not principles, wishes, or hopes. People.