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Heart breaking

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* Amanda Vinicky has a story up that you need to listen to. Dan Gorog of Joliet testified through tears yesterday about how how grateful he is that the Senate is trying to restore funding for state autism programs which once helped his own child, Daniel, who’s now 23. Mr. Gorog’s remarks begin at about the 30-second mark…

Click to listen

And once you’ve listened to Mr. Gorog’s heart-rending testimony, imagine how he’s going to react if the House refuses to go along with the Senate’s proposed funding restoration.

Ugh.

The governor’s $26 million cut needs to be rescinded, one way or the other. It’s a freaking rounding error, for crying out loud.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 11:27 am

Comments

I’m not sure what poster previously said ‘nice autistic kid you got there, hate to see anything happen to it’ but it’s becoming clearer and clearer. I wasn’t aware extortion was this common in ‘big business’ but I guess I should read the financial pages more.

Comment by Not quite a majority Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 11:34 am
For a Gov that made sure everyone knows he was ‘willing to take the arrows’ he sure is silent on this one.

Too bad those autistic kids don’t want to learn a motorcycle. Plenty of funding for that….

Comment by How Ironic Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 11:35 am
Meant to say Too bad those autistic kids don’t want to learn to ride a motorcycle.

Comment by How Ironic Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 11:36 am
As the Gov said, he didn’t create this mess, the corrupt people in office before him did. Rauner only cares about the top 1 percenters, certainly not the little people that have to receive help from the state budget. What a DOPE this guy is. Just like the guy that sits on a bar stool in a local bar and spouts off on his idea about everything. Can’t stand the man, and it’s only been 100 days in office.

Comment by Big Joe Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 11:38 am
Sad deal here.rauner is praying that Dan Gorog blames state employees and pensioners

Comment by foster brooks Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 11:39 am
It is tough to believe that the cuts were necessary when money was found for a “Chief of [No] Staff” for the Governor’s wife.

On this issue, Rauner sunk to Blagojevich levels. Blago use campaign contributions to push a children’s hospital. Rauner is using funding for autistic kids to gain some negotiating advantage.

People with a basic sense of decency do not use sick kids for political advantage. We’ve had some pretty terrible people in Illinois government but with only one exception, these two are now the bottom of the barrel.

Comment by Gooner Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 11:42 am
No matter who the Governor was the state employees and pensioners were going to be blamed. Is Squeezy that much of a distant memory?

Comment by Mouthy Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 11:44 am
This is a PR nightmare. I’m not sure why no action has been taken to release the funds. If they want to take a stand on the budget this is the wrong thing to use.

Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 11:45 am
There’s a remedy there. Employ it. This one passes the test of “essential services” by any measure. Fight over something else.

Comment by A guy Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 11:50 am
Given all the poker and toy runs that motorcyclists are a part of, maybe someone should ask them to publicize this disparity. Maybe they (the motorcyclists themselves) can shame the Governor into taking money from the motorcycle education fund and putting it back in the social services fund. Because, I seriously doubt they want to be known as heartless people.

Comment by mythoughtis Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 11:51 am
== As the Gov said, he didn’t create this mess ==

Yes, Rauner did. He had a choice on where and which programs to slash. This is one of them he picked. Rauner owns it.

Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 11:52 am
Rauner does not like public schools competing with “charter” schools. Public school employees, take warning, you are on his “list”.

Comment by DuPage Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 11:57 am
Serious question: how do those of us who need to advocate against the cuts refuse to participate in this extortion gambit?

It’s entirely immoral and I resent being held hostage by someone who obviously lacks the values shared by most Illinoisans.

What can we do to reject the cuts without playing the game?

Comment by crazybleedingheart Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 11:59 am
It is a rounding error, which make the cuts a willful ideological statement.

Comment by Wordslinger Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 12:01 pm
Very compelling. Unlike the stories from the thousands of folks who rely on other gov’t services that could well be cut. But I am confident there really aren’t any programs the state funds that should be cut. Just ask the folks who depend on them.

So, now that we have that settled - how about that vote to sustain the temporary tax increase? Oh, wait…..never mind.

I am not a Rauner supporter, BTW - no raunerbot here. Having read from this blog for many years it has become more clear to me that many folks here truly believe the state must be all things to all people, all the time. Y’all just gotta find a way to pay for it. Let’s hear more of that.

Comment by dupage dan Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 12:01 pm
No problem, Dupage Dan. I just looked under the state couch cushions and found $26M.

Well, I found $6M. But Rauner apparently wants to donate $20M to someone in state government and I figure it would be better used by people serving autistic kids than the self-gratification of valueless austerity shills in the GA willing to take his cash.

Comment by crazybleedingheart Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 12:06 pm
It was very hard to keep that clean enough to post. We all know what those GA members are.

Comment by crazybleedingheart Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 12:07 pm
DD, nice straw man with the “all things to all people.”

It’s about setting priorities. As in, cutting $26 million in social service programs at the same time you hand out $100 million in tax credits to profitable corporations.

See how that worked? You “saved” $26 million, but then gave away $100 million.

Still want to argue those cuts were for fiscal reasons?

Comment by Wordslinger Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 12:08 pm
Hey DD……Maybe Rauner could’ve cut the hundreds of millions of “waste, fraud and abuse” before slashing programs for some of the most vulnerable IL children? Just an idea.

The budget was $1.6M out of balance (these are Rauner’s staffs numbers) and the GA delivered 2 bills, totaling that exact amount, to the Governor’s desk, which he signed. Days later he takes the ax to autistic kids funding (among others).

I disagree that Rauner is using this funding as a political game……I honestly think the man wants to cut anything that’s not nailed down. This year he only had the ability to erased the amount that remained unexpended (3-4 months worth of money. Pretty scary stuff in store for FY16 when he has control over a full year’s funds.

Comment by Get a Job! Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 12:17 pm
If it is a rounding error, then get the legislature to move the money from a less deserving budget.

BTW, I agree that the new tax credits are premature at best.

Comment by plutocrat03 Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 12:21 pm
===then get the legislature to move the money from a less deserving budget. ===

They funded those programs in the FY 15 deal. Try to keep up, please.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 12:23 pm
Once you become the man, you own the situation. I know there are some programs/contracts that even a governor can’t scuttle - or even alter in a small way. But for the most part these decisions and the ramifications fall squarely on Governor Rauner’s shoulders and his shoulders alone.

Comment by Team Sleep Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 12:26 pm
I thought plutocrats had people for that. Check must have bounced.

Comment by Jorge Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 12:32 pm
crazybleedingheart

“No problem, Dupage Dan. I just looked under the state couch cushions and found $26M.”

Not a bad suggestion.
You’d be surprised at how much is owed the State of Illinois in uncollected taxes!

Comment by WhoKnew Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 12:33 pm
I don’t recall seeing anything about funding cuts to the motorcycle training program for FY15, nor do I remember seeing any funds swept from the Cycle Rider Training Fund. A reporter or legislator might want to ask Rauner or Nuding if paying for motorcyclists is more “essential” than autism. According to the Comptroller’s website there’s around $10.5 million sitting in the fund as of today…

Comment by MyTwoCents Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 1:06 pm
“Y’all just gotta find a way to pay for it.”

Please apply this fiscal rigor to Rauner’s increased funding for free motorcycle lessons and to the salary for the first lady’s chief of staff.

– MrJM

Comment by MrJM Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 1:19 pm
Rich your reference to SB 274 amendment 4 which is stated in your post as being a restoration of the $26 million really assumes something the bill does not state. That the 26 million swept from 106 funds will be used to restore the programs cut in the Good Friday actions.

There is nothing in SB 274 amendment 4 that obligates GOMB to transfer the 26 million in any particular manner, but rather only to report those transfers. It is presumed that a deal has been reached, but the actual deal to restore the TAP program is not set forth in SB 274 as amended. It would not take a lot of work to insert that into the bill as it was drafted by Senator Kotowski.

The exact amounts to be removed from each fund to create the total of $26 million is not established in the bill, it is left to the Governor’s office to do. While certain provisions are established in SB 274 about how drained these funds can become, in fact if the fund has no liabilities it could go to zero with provision for restoration from GRF to “satisfy outstanding expenditure obligations.”

Given the past misunderstandings between GOMB and the Assembly more specifics need to be included in this bill. To read the bill go to http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/99/SB/PDF/09900SB0274sam004.pdf

Comment by Rod Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 1:37 pm
I have written a comment three seperate times, deciding not to have it appear;

This is a fiasco, ginned up by some parties thinking it’s better to seem like the smartest in the room, while other parties are forced into the role of educating what it means to say what you mean, mean what you say, and knowing co-equal isn’t a buzz word.

Now is the time. Now. Forget how y’all got there for now, but never forget the lessons all learned in the process.

Politics ain’t beanbag, I know I’ve said that dozens of times, but I’ve never meant it, or thought it was warrented for any party in a discussion to exaserbate confusion, or to heighten levels of intensity at the expense of innocent others.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 1:52 pm
Having worked in the field for over thirty-five years, I will simply say that every single thing a person with autism learns to do for himself is one less thing that you will have to pay someone to do for him.

When skills and appropriate behaviors are taught young, the individual has the best chance of achieving self-sufficiency as an adult. Being able to function in an apartment and hold down a job is a whole lot better than having to live in a group home and work in a sheltered setting.

It is also massively less expensive to invest some money early on instead of paying for residential and vocational placements later. It’s the difference between a hundred thousand dollars and millions.

Make a good decision with our tax dollars.

Comment by Aldyth Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 1:57 pm
Nuding testified in plain English that the cuts were directed to these programs primarily because they were some of the only ones that had money left to cut.

They weren’t pointed attacks. They weren’t partisan cuts. They weren’t Rauner-insider handwringing. They were the cuts that had to be made.

That’s from the horses mouth. And with all the lip service that’s paid to respect for the Gov’s new budget director, you sure are doing a disservice to him and his shop by blatantly misrepresenting the facts.

“Try to keep up.”

Comment by Greyhounds are for Drinking Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 2:01 pm
==because they were some of the only ones that had money left to cut==

I think that needs to be said over and over. That was my personal experience with the process. If it hadn’t been spent, don’t spend it.

Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 2:06 pm
” They were the cuts that had to be made.”

But they didn’t. The FY15 deal appropriated the money. The Governor, while Governor elect, directly lobbied the legislature to reduce revenue. The Governor approved $100 million in tax expenditures. He had a choice, he made it. He was not an innocent bystander.

Comment by Arsenal Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 2:31 pm
I am so heartsick about all of this, I have stopped reading the news. I am now focusing on William Butler Yeats. “One man loved the pilgrim soul in you…” So much nicer than reality…

Comment by Soccermom Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 2:41 pm
Greyhound: Try to keep up. The cuts were made because of a funding shortfall in the 2015 Budget of $1.6B, based on whatever criteria Nuding has tried to explain. Then the GA restored $1.6B for fiscal 2015, and these cuts remained anyway.

Having trouble with arithmetic? These cuts now go beyond any funding shortfalls in fiscal 2015, and are made for other reasons.

Don’t know how many times that has to be pointed out.

Comment by walker Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 2:58 pm
If the guy had a heart, much less cared about the optics, he would have already snapped his fingers and made this issue go away. Very sad. That being the case, things in FY16 are going to get much, much worse. Sadly, he’s gearing up and happy about that.

Comment by TrueSilkLike Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 3:03 pm
From here on out GA members should *get* everything in writing and *put* everything in writing. No loopholes; none. “Do Not Trust, But Verify” is the watchphrase.

Comment by TrueSilkLike Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 3:08 pm
=== - MrJM - Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 1:19 pm:

“Y’all just gotta find a way to pay for it.”

Please apply this fiscal rigor to Rauner’s increased funding for free motorcycle lessons and to the salary for the first lady’s chief of staff.

– MrJM ===

Straw, meet man.

As I predicted, so it came to pass. I read from many here who claim to be fiscal conservatives but didn’t hear any offerings on the idea that the gov’t can’t be all things to all people.

The fiscal hole in this state is far larger than this program - we know that. Rounding error is what this is called. Just how do you solve the problem? Certainly we can’t reduce the budget or cut programs - THE HORROR.

I ain’t touter of no waste fraud and abuse mantra. You want the programs you gotta pay for ‘em. Seems as tho the very folks YOU ELECTED don’t agree with you. And, in your smugness, you believe you have won the argument by shooting me down. That’s rich.

Comment by dupage dan Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 3:37 pm
DD, you’re not paying attention.

See Walker, 2:58, for the umpteenth time.

Comment by Wordslinger Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 3:42 pm
The rounding error that’s turned into a morality error.

Comment by Bulldog58 Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 3:50 pm
Dan - I agree with your statement about people often failing to provide ideas/solutions. But the Governor begged the GA to sweep funds so that the current hole can be patched. Then he decided to cut a minute amount away from something as important as TAP. Why? What is the rationale - especially for a whopping $26 million (which is a rounding error)?

Sorry - not trying to pile on.

Comment by Team Sleep Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 3:56 pm
Here is the other thing I don’t understand about this entire fiasco. The Governor and his allies have/are pooling their resources to put $60 million in different political slush funds to bribe and bully members of the legislature to do their bidding.
Do they realize how much goodwill they could have received if they canceled the state funding because the resources aren’t there, but turned around and privately made them whole to get them through the rest of the year?

Or is it really that much more important to hold these programs hostage until the GA goes along with the attempt to take a wrecking ball to the middle class?

Comment by Juice Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 3:58 pm
“I am not a Rauner supporter, BTW - no raunerbot here. Having read from this blog for many years it has become more clear to me that many folks here truly believe the state must be all things to all people, all the time. Y’all just gotta find a way to pay for it. Let’s hear more of that.”

+1. But I don’t expect from the “don’t cut anything” crowd.

Comment by Catrike Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 4:02 pm
@ Dupage Dan,

Try to keep up, your Ranunerbot talking points are failing you.

Raunerhood demanded the legislature NOT keep the temp tax hike, thereby reducing available revenue for programs that had already been allocated funds.

The population WANTED these programs, Raunerhood didn’t want them, and didn’t want to fund them.

These are his cuts. His decisions.

But, let’s also remember that he did manage to find it in his big old soft heart to INCREASE Free Motorcycle Training classes. If only the autistic kids wanted to learn to ride….

Comment by How Ironic Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 4:07 pm
The “all things to all people” argument is just nonsense, anyway.

Cuts have been going on for years. Now, we’re talking about these specific people and these specific programs which were specifically funded.

Make an effort, for crying out loud.

Comment by Wordslinger Wednesday, Apr 22, 15 @ 5:05 pm
Another must read on the topic:

http://www.ylibertynews.com/arsonists-light-up-rauner-budget-chief/

Comment by Political Animal Thursday, Apr 23, 15 @ 8:29 am