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The consequences of cuts

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Illinois

Among the budget cuts handed down in the Feb. 18 budget from Gov. Bruce Rauner was the elimination of funding for programs that stem school bullying. […]

“While I know every penny counts right now, we’re talking about half-a-million dollars that saves a lot of money for the state further down the road,” said [Rep. Kelly Cassidy]. “Besides the human cost, there is a financial cost to bullying as well—it drives up law-enforcement costs, for example. Remember, in Minnesota a school district got sued because of the bullying that took place there.” […]

“This impacts not just LGBT students, but students with disabilities, students of color [or] students who identify as female,” [said Anthony Papini of Illinois Safe Schools Alliance]. “We need to ask ourselves, do we want to be a state that promotes unsafe learning environments for our children? This is going to require a community effort, to reverse. I guarantee you that these cuts are going to result in unsafe schools.” […]

The Alliance is also concerned with Rauner’s appointment of Rev. James Meeks, who has opposed numerous pro-LGBT initiatives, as chair of the Illinois State Board of Education.

“He’s somebody who has preached that LGBT people are not normal,” Papini added. “Of course, it’s an ‘equal-opportunity’ hate. He’s spoken out against Jews and Hispanics as well. Is that the message the governor wants to send to students?”

* Meanwhile, the governor’s proposed $1.5 billion in Medicaid cuts could have a major impact on kids…

As Illinois lawmakers consider a $1.5 billion cut in Medicaid spending proposed by Gov. Bruce Rauner, a new report is out that underlines just how widespread Medicaid and other health-related state spending has become in every corner of Illinois, even the most prosperous. […]

Overall, those in state health programs—the vast bulk in Medicaid, but also some ancillary programs such as Kid-Care and a high-risk insurance pool known as CHIP—total 2.8 million, or 1 in 5 Illinoisans overall, the study found. But among children, from infants to age 18, the figure is much higher, hitting 52 percent of those in that age group statewide.

The figure is at least 16 percent—1 kid in 6—in every single Senate district in the state. In most it’s 30 percent or more.

Figures also are high among seniors, many of whom go on Medicaid to pay for care in nursing homes. Despite getting Medicare, 1 senior in 10 in Illinois also gets Medicaid, too.

* The district-by-district study is here. From the narrative…

How does this play out in individual districts? Let’s use the example of State Senator Dale Righter whose district includes Mattoon, Illinois. He was quoted in the Chicago Tribune saying that “we can’t afford” the medical programs we have, and he clearly supports Governor Bruce Rauner’s proposal to slash $1.5 billion from Medicaid.

It turns out that Sen. Righter’s constituents need medical care as much as anyone else. One in five or 21 percent of his constituents are in state medical programs. Almost half — 47 percent — of children in his district are covered by state medical programs. How does a legislator seek to reduce medical care that half the children in his district are in need of?

* Other cut stories…

* Gov. Rauner’s proposed budget cuts are not acceptable: The governor’s proposed budget drastically cuts state funding for substance use disorder treatment by more than 20 percent. The presumption that cutting addiction treatment programs will save the state money is profoundly wrong and has no basis in fact. The opposite is true.

* Sen. Morrison hosts group in discussion on Rauner budget

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 10:25 am

Comments

How are the Democrats going to “own” the “The Rauner Cuts” again?

It will be Bruce Rauner’s signature on that budget. There will be structured votes for the GOP to own it too.

It’s really beginning. The rubber is hitting the road. Governing.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 10:35 am
“I will make her radioactive. She will never get another job anywhere, ever. I will bankrupt her with legal fees. I don’t know if she has a family or not, but if she does, she better think twice about this.”

And Bruce is now eliminating funding for anti-bullying programs?

I’ll bet Christine Kirk and Dave McKinney are just shocked!

– MrJM

Comment by MrJM Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 10:41 am
All of life’s woes can’t be fixed with tax money. The do-gooders should dig deep in their pockets and give until it hurts, and leave us haters alone.

Comment by Neglected stepchild Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 10:45 am
I’m not sold on the “bullying” issue that has become popular social gospel. Life ain’t easy, people don’t always like one another, fights happen, deal with it. Throwing tax dollars around to try to teach teenagers to play nice has always seemed like a farce.

Comment by John A Logan Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 10:53 am
How did we keep kids from picking on each other prior to hashtags and Facebook campaigns? Was it discipline, good parenting or the “big brother” stepping in? We spend millions upon millions for these types of programs and yet we still have bullies, we still have people that text-n-drive, we still have people that speed in construction zones, we still have people taking heroin and list goes on. Huh, maybe government programs aren’t the answer? Can it be argued that there would be “more of any of that” without these programs, sure, I suppose. But I just don’t see the evidence that signs and programs stop or change much of anything. I guess we just need to spend more….#stopallstupidstuff There, I fixed society.

Comment by Anon Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 10:54 am
===How did we keep kids from picking on each other prior to hashtags and Facebook campaigns?===

We didn’t really.

Well, that’s not entirely true. I remember Mike Brady teaching his son Peter how to box so that he could stand up to Buddy Hinton, who was bullying Peter’s younger sister Cindy. Of course Mike taught Peter to reason with Buddy first, and when that didn’t work, Peter had to put his boxing lessons to use.

Everyone learned a valuable lesson that day.

Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 11:00 am
Every line in budget comes with a “pay now or pay more later” story. They’re all an “Ounce of Prevention.”

Tough to sort out.

One “consequent of cuts” we can be sure of is moving closer to a balanced budget.

Even with all these cuts, Rauner’s budget will still require at least $3Billion in tax increases — unless he shorts the pension funding.

Comment by walker Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 11:01 am
Let’s just make the state income tax 6% for three years and the minimum wage $15/hour in Chicago. Let’s eliminate as much fraud as possible across the board and watch expenses closely—very closely.

Would that take care of things????

Comment by anon Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 11:01 am
==This impacts not just LGBT students, but students with disabilities, students of color [or] students who identify as female==

As well as students who identify as male. Because guys never get bullied, right?

Dope.

Comment by Formerly Known As... Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 11:06 am
===Let’s eliminate as much fraud as possible across the board===
Agreed. You point it out at less of a cost than what you hope to eliminate, and we’ll do it.

===watch expenses closely—very closely===
Ok.

===Let’s just make the state income tax 6% for three years and the minimum wage $15/hour in Chicago===
Now you’re finally getting around to balancing the Illinois budget.

Comment by PublicServant Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 11:09 am
47th - I get your attempt at humor, but Anon 10:54 brings up a good point. A lot of programs such as homelessness prevention or anti-bullying PSAs feel good and make people think, but are they effective? And, perhaps more importantly, can you ever actually end those problems?

Programs (at the federal and state levels) like these seem to skate through forever without much of a consideration or even the mention of an audit or cuts and they are funded from year-to-year. Many of the programs have a key sponsor and deals are worked out to keep the program in place. But is that really an efficient way to run government?

Running government “like a business” does not just mean being cold-hearted. It could also mean taking a real look at whether a program or initiative or lump sum appropriation is truly effective and a good use of taxpayers money.

One of the reasons the federal government is so screwed up (at least budget-wise) is that so much spending is never challenged and gets swept into continuing resolutions (which do little more than just fund agencies). There is no reason for such sloppiness.

Comment by Team Sleep Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 11:11 am
We will continue to see the drumbeat of “don’t cut me” but no suggestions of what to cut.

Comment by ANON. Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 11:12 am
I have a lot of respect for Sen. Righter, but he an most GOP legislators get their info on Medicaid from misinformed groups like the Illinois Policy Institute. There are consequences to cuts. If those cuts are based on misinformation, people suffer. Of course if you have no heart, i.e. Gov. Rauner, they don’t care.

Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 11:13 am
In golf, every shot makes someone happy.

In budgets, every cut makes someone angry.

This will be a daily discussion as we go along.

Comment by A guy Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 11:14 am
No one likes bullies.
No one likes haters.

If someone in government acknowledges that we are not the norm, then we can claim that they are advocating bullying and hating because those who bully and hate us, also believe that we are not normal.

As a victim’s advocate group, we see how powerful the moral arguments are of being a victim, so when we need to, we can use similar arguments by claiming the our victim’s advocate group is being victimized.

This governor didn’t give us as much money as his predecessor, hence, we will tell people that he thinks it is OK to be bullied and hated.

If you give us less money, we’ll publically use political extortion against you, but at least we are not bullying or hating you - well, we are but you deserve it, you hate-filled freaks!

Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 11:17 am
Logan -

“youths who were sometimes bullied in and away from school, and who also bullied others away from school weekly, were 16 times more likely to carry a weapon.”

Maybe you are too young to remember Columbine.

The armed stand-off in my high school 30 years ago didn’t make headlines because thankfully nobody died, but only because a janitor discovered he had sneaked in with his rifle before the rest of the students arrived that day.

Comment by Juvenal Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 11:20 am
Mr.JM-
McKinney wrote a piece about Rauner and Madigan for Chicago Magazine. Word is that before he could take the gig he had to tell CM editors his beef with the Rauner folks was over and would not be renewed. No one wanted to dredge all that stuff up again. Except you. Do the guy a favor and let it go. He has.

Comment by In a Minute Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 11:26 am
PublicServant—-Up to you and your cohorts to find the fraud and waste. Be careful, it could just slap you in the face if not careful.

Comment by anon Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 11:29 am
===Word is that before he could take the gig he had to tell CM editors his beef with the Rauner folks was over and would not be renewed.===

Really? Didn’t McKinney’s boss give his word there’s no conflict of interest?

If you want to “speculate” on a deal, ok, but don’t clain there is/was one unless you can actually prove that.

Thanks.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 11:29 am
One other thing—–do you think all the $ not going to state income tax now versus the past 4 years is being stuffed under the mattress? Or is the majority of it being spent for goods and services?

Comment by anon Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 11:32 am
With all these cuts, am I to assume that all the “fraud, waste, and abuse” has been found?

Why doesn’t Bruce ask Stu Levine (who was pulling down Donna Arduin money at the time) where to look.

Comment by Jocko Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 11:34 am
“Well, that’s not entirely true. I remember Mike Brady teaching his son Peter how to box so that he could stand up to Buddy Hinton, who was bullying Peter’s younger sister Cindy. Of course Mike taught Peter to reason with Buddy first, and when that didn’t work, Peter had to put his boxing lessons to use.”

47, the example you used, albeit humorous, is an excellent example of one of the most significant issues faced by schools today. There was a time when parents were expected to have the primary responsibility for raising their children and teaching them right from wrong etc. There were many that didn’t handle that responsibility but society still expected them to handle it. Now, that has changed. Parents call and set up “play dates” for kids well into their teens. All activities are organized and monitored by parents or coaches. Children have lost the experience of proper socialization. Someone else must be the arbiter of conflict and they no longer understand how to resolve conflicts and, they have lost understanding of how to treat others because of the intervention. Bullies will exist and have to be dealt with.

This funding can be cut without an increased risk or adverse outcomes.

Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 11:35 am
=== A lot of programs such as homelessness prevention or anti-bullying PSAs feel good and make people think, but are they effective? ===

Budgeting based upon the effectiveness of programs has been the holy grail goal that many policy folks have been chasing for a long time. State (and Federal) government spends a lot of time and money on performance management activity. With the possible exception of a few examples of low-hanging fruit the performance “metrics” on effectiveness have not been used for budget decisions - neither to fund or cut.

I’m an advocate of that, but politics is a barrier to making this a reality. Legislators think they know what works and what doesn’t. Of course it usually aligns with the desires of their constituency.

Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 11:50 am
I was bullied in school because learning came easy for me. I generated feelings of inferiority among many of my classmates who made sure I was made to feel inferior to them in the schoolyard. It was very hard to go to school everyday. It was hard to deal with a group of boys who wouldn’t accept me because I was smarter than they. I was punched, hit, spit at, and shoved on a regular basis.

I felt that I could not complain about it, because that wasn’t what boys did. I certainly wouldn’t squeal to our old lady teacher like I needed to hide behind her skirts. I used to hide in my bedroom and cry after school and made sure no one knew what I was going through.

So I identify with these victims. Establishing responsibilities within schools regarding bullying has made schools a better place for my children today. I have mentored bullied children. Schools are very sensitive to these issues.

Cutting the budget to bullying programs doesn’t suggest an insensitivity to the issue, in my experience.

Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 11:56 am
And if a bullied child commits suicide because the school district didn’t provide anti-bullying training and programs? How much will it cost when the parents sue the school district?

Comment by Aldyth Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 11:57 am
Every one of these “budget cut impact” stories should ask their respective proponents how they intend to fund them. If that’s a tax increase, so be it, but it’s only reasonable to identify where the money is supposed to come from. To only show one side of the issue is weak journalism at best.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 12:18 pm
==they have lost understanding of how to treat others because of the intervention==

Made worse if leaders of that intervention exhibit the same bias as Mr Papini’s comments.

Comment by Formerly Known As... Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 12:23 pm
=And if a bullied child commits suicide because the school district didn’t provide anti-bullying training and programs?=

What if the parents didn’t do anything about the bullying or it happened outside of school?

Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 12:26 pm
JS Mill

“What if the parents didn’t do anything about the bullying or it happened outside of school?”

Do you think that will stop the family from suing or a jury to find in their favor?

Comment by Aldyth Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 12:35 pm
===Or is the majority of it being spent for goods and services===

The tax savings that went to those who make more per year than the goods and services they need, certainly aren’t in the economy, unless they were possibly used to buy politicians. The vast majority of the benefits from the tax decrease went to them. So, as can be seen from the cuts proposed by Brucie that take money out of the hands of people who can’t afford not to spend it on goods and services, it clear that it’s a huge negative to the economy. There really is no doubt about it, except in your mind, I suppose.

Comment by PublicServant Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 12:40 pm
Everything I know about the Illinois anti-bullying program I learned in this thread. Does it work? Is it worth the money? I don’t know, maybe it is, maybe it isn’t. Which brings me to my point. I am beginning to sense that the administration has taken the budget axe to a great many programs of this sort by begging the question. That is, if this program is so great, then prove it, and with conviction. How refreshing!

Comment by Keyser Soze Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 1:04 pm
PublicServant—-A bit of advice, don’t attempt to work in the private sector. You would get chewed up. Very quickly!

Comment by anon Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 1:15 pm
“No one wanted to dredge all that stuff up again. Except you.”

And that’s how comments on CapFax work — commenters dredge up stuff they think is worthy of dredging up.

So bite me, dope.

– MrJM

Comment by MrJM Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 1:22 pm
Remember the principles office? I sure did, remember notes to your parents? I sure die. Put me on track right away. There is no real need for anti-bullying programs/funds, it’s a waste. Restructure school policy, sure…but kids need to deal with life one way or another…

Comment by shanks Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 1:37 pm
==but kids need to deal with life one way or another==

Yep. That’s the perfect answer. The “just deal with it” answer. You’d make a good counselor. Never mind the kids that are committing suicide because of being bullied. They just need to “deal with it” better.

Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 1:41 pm
Anon, I current own my own consulting firm. Just another thing you’ve got wrong.

Comment by PublicServant Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 2:05 pm
PS—WOW! Do you do private sector consulting? Do you have employees or are you a one man road show? Very curious.

Comment by anon Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 2:10 pm
Parents and teachers need to stop bullying.

I do not know how cost effective the state program to halt bullying has been.

I will have to learn more.

Comment by Under Further Review Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 2:16 pm
How bout you pal?

Comment by PublicServant Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 2:21 pm
@Keyser Soze:

“…Which brings me to my point. I am beginning to sense that the administration has taken the budget axe to a great many programs of this sort by begging the question. That is, if this program is so great, then prove it, and with conviction. How refreshing!”

Correction, the Admin hasn’t asked ANY questions. They did the lazy thing and just took a whack with a great big axe, w/out any consideration to the consequences.

And your suggestion that’s ‘refreshing’ is revolting. It’s like being knocked out, put on a gurney and waking up w/out any arms or legs. And the surgeon saying ‘well…times are tough. Please justify each one of your appendages, and after considering your pleas, we might, maybe put one back. Maybe.” Oh…and by the way don’t forget to sign up for your FREE motorcycle training classes. We’ve increased their funding…you’ll just have to have someone else sign up for you now that you’ve lost your non-essential arms.

Comment by How Ironic Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 2:39 pm
PS—small business owner.

Comment by anon Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 2:55 pm
PS: My sense is that many, possibly most, of those on this blog are highly experienced in the private sector, including many with whom you have disagreed in the past. Your explanation-to-self of their failure to see things your way is much too easy.

Comment by walker Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 4:18 pm
My comment above should have been directed to anon. Sorry PS, I’m with you.

Comment by walker Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 4:40 pm
Appreciated Walker. Although I was dismayed until I read your follow up just before posting this.

Anon, I have an IT consultancy. What type of small business do you own? Very curious.

Comment by PublicServant Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 6:07 pm
Tom Cross tried to stop the Medicaid expansion and we saw what happened.

Republicans were united in their opposition to the Medicaid expansion. They expected to pick up seats in the House and Senate but found out otherwise.

If Republicans want to keep losing over the issue, they can go right ahead.

Comment by Anon Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 8:20 pm