* Tribune…
More than two months after lawmakers put an end to the state’s historic budget impasse by voting to override Gov. Bruce Rauner’s veto of a new spending plan, his administration has started to move forward with key provisions of the proposal he continues to criticize.
On Friday, the governor’s office said it would begin to sign contracts with nonprofit groups who are waiting on more than $70 million that was set aside in the budget to pay for autism, epilepsy and immigration programs, among others. The full amount won’t be paid, his office said, but the money is likely to be welcome for agencies that went without regular funding during the budget stalemate. […]
(A) spokesman for Rauner said some of those programs would see their budgets reduced from the levels set by the legislature. Spokesman Jason Schaumburg said autism, epilepsy and immigration services would get 5 percent less than what lawmakers budgeted, while a program that pays for the burial of low-income people would be cut by about a third.
Among the groups waiting on funding is The Autism Program of Illinois, which has twice laid off its staff and shut down in the last few years. The most recent closure took place at the end of June, and the organization hasn’t reopened since. It was set to receive $4 million under the budget, according to Russ Bonanno, former director of the program. Despite Rauner’s move Friday, the state’s budget war has already done damage and left Bonanno skeptical the state will come through.
- Anon221 - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 10:19 am:
Rauner’s Revenge… the continuing saga.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 10:24 am:
Dear Social Service providers…
“The Rauner Cuts”
If you’re not framing it that way now, then you’re already way behind.
If you’re a social service and Diana Rauner happens to be your President, and … you also face these “Rauner Cuts”… I’m sure if you’re caught… in that bind… Diana Rauner’s “brand” will help land anothet Pritzker family bailout…
- Galena Guy - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 10:25 am:
It really has reached the point of sadism with that man.
- AuH20 - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 10:29 am:
I’m not entirely familiar with the details of the budgeting process, so can someone answer a question?
Namely, what gives Rauner the authority to ignore spending levels voted into law by the legislature?
- Retired Educator - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 10:32 am:
Rauner and the BTIA, getting in one more kick while they are down. You guys really can’t find anywhere else to save money? Autistic kids——-Really?
- Precinct Captain - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 10:46 am:
This guy has got to have a Dorian Gray picture at home.
- Boy Blunder - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 10:48 am:
@AuH20
The legislature gets to appropriate, but the executive is responsible for spending those appropriations. While spending can’t exceed the appropriations, they cannot be forced to spend the entire appropriation.
- Honeybear - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 10:48 am:
5% here 5% there
Rauner will have his scab money for December
In no time
His Deloitte and McKenzie bills are also coming due soon
- Louis G. Atsaves - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 11:35 am:
Buried at the bottom of the article:
“This is is what happens when you launch an unagreed budget over to the governor and just say ‘Deal with it,’ ” Rose said. “For a group of people who said for a year they did not want to give him the power to cut on his own, that’s exactly what they did.”
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 11:40 am:
===“This is is what happens when you launch an unagreed budget over to the governor and just say ‘Deal with it,’ ” Rose said. “For a group of people who said for a year they did not want to give him the power to cut on his own, that’s exactly what they did.”===
Oh - Louis G Atsaves -, lol…
So you think it’s “understandable” and “deal with it” in reverse…
Keep in mind;
Bruce Rauner first vetoed every dime to social services, now Rauner, even after the veto wants to be in the hook for the “Rauner Cuts” too?
“I vetoed all their money, so when it was overridden, I had to find another way to hurt or destroy social services so I’ll just not fund them at the override levels”
That won’t help Diana Rauner’s “brand”
- JS Mill - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 11:50 am:
=Buried at the bottom of the article:
“This is is what happens when you launch an unagreed budget over to the governor and just say ‘Deal with it,’ ” Rose said. “For a group of people who said for a year they did not want to give him the power to cut on his own, that’s exactly what they did.”=
Well then…that makes it ok to cut services for people with Autism, versus reducing money paid to high priced tech consultants.
Because those vulnerable under represented consultants needed the money… /s
- Jibba - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 12:22 pm:
Rose has a gift of being able to twist anything to make it fit with his political leanings.
- Leslie K - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 1:14 pm:
I will admit that I thought finally having a budget would stop Rauner’s war on social services, at least until the next budget. I now feel very very foolish.
- igotgotgotgotnotime - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 1:38 pm:
No wonder Rauner threw away $120M and counting through inaction on borrowing. He was afraid that it would just have gone to someone who actually needed it.
- Anon221 - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 2:49 pm:
And how hard has Rose fought for the constituents that Rauner is now threatening??? He certainly wasn’t one of the brave votes. No, Rose is fond of the ” one more thing” Columbo routine favored by Rauner.
- Hope Communications Director - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 4:05 pm:
To clarify, The Autism Program of Illinois (TAP) was forced to cut or eliminate services to clients, through Hope’s Autism Clinic and through TAP’s partners, to families that are uninsured, or whose insurance doesn’t cover treatment for autism. These families relied on the funds from the TAP grant to obtain the services and treatment they needed for their children diagnosed with ASD. TAP’s network includes four university partners, 10 nonprofit partners and 17 centers across the state. Without this funding for autism through the TAP grant, thousands of children statewide stopped receiving direct services July 1st. Treatment for ASD is life changing for families and early intervention is key to a successful future. Once funding comes through, TAP will be able to once again provide services to these clients. TAP has been forced to make these cuts in the past because funding has been unreliable over the last few years. It is very difficult to provide stable services and treatment to these families who rely on TAP funding for treatment when it is never certain that TAP will be funded from year to year.
- winslow - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 4:18 pm:
“burial of low-income people would be cut by about a third.” Will people not get buried? Somehow this seems prime for an anti Rauner political ad
- wordslinger - Monday, Sep 11, 17 @ 5:57 pm:
–“burial of low-income people would be cut by about a third.” –
What’s that mean? A four-foot hole? Or stacking them up in the back?
Is the comptroller still responsible for regulating cemeteries? She might want to keep an eye on that.