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More cuts announced

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Illinois

A month ago, new Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and state lawmakers agreed to $300 million in cuts as part of a plan to fix a budget passed last year that didn’t have enough money to cover 12 months of spending. […]

The administration will make roughly $106 million in cuts to the Medicaid health care program for the poor, much of which takes the form of a 16.75 percent reduction to reimbursement payments to doctors and pharmacies. Another $1.1 million would be slashed from human service programs including domestic violence shelters, services for homeless youths and the sickle cell clinic at the University of Illinois.

College scholarship grants for low-income students also would be cut, as would funding for community colleges. Lawmakers briefed by Rauner budget director Tim Nuding said he indicated that scholarships would be trimmed by about $6 million and colleges would lose about $8 million.

Sen. Heather Steans, D-Chicago, said the cuts are “consistent” with agreements made during weeks of budget negotiations between lawmakers and Rauner’s office to fix a budget that the new governor inherited from his Democratic predecessor Pat Quinn.

* AP…

According to a document released by Rauner’s budget office, the Department of Human Services will see an overall loss of $1.1 million. That includes a $419,000 cut to domestic violence shelters and a $103,000 reduction to homeless youth services. A mental health program involving psychotropic drugs would be cut by $42,000. Spokeswoman Veronica Vera said the only two programs not affected are for developmental disabilities and mental health.

Illinois community colleges will see a $6.37 million cut, according to data from its governing board. Spokesman Matthew Berry said the cut would have an immediate impact on the schools because it’s occurring so late in the year and could have an impact on services over the summer as schools will be forced to dig into reserve funds

Rauner’s budget office also said cuts will affect the Monetary Award Program at the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, but did not disclose a specific dollar amount. […]

State Sen. Dan Kotowski, one of two Senate appropriations chairs, called Thursday’s move a “stark contrast to the letters that were sent out on Good Friday without any notice.”

These are not going to be popular cuts, but legislators are at least being informed about what’s going on.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 8:50 am

Comments

Another day, another round of cuts because of not extending the 5% income tax rate.

Comment by DuPage Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 8:58 am
That’s ok, these aren’t “real people” that are being affected anyway.

Comment by CharlieKratos Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 9:00 am
Cuts disproportionately affecting the poor or disadvantaged with no cuts affecting upper income people (except for maybe the Medicaid reimbursement cuts affecting doctors, hospitals and pharmacists). What a shock! Is there any credible talk or movement regarding some revenue enhancements? Any? Any at all? Again, what a shock.

Comment by Down Here Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 9:02 am
The Good Friday dump was amateurish wishful thinking as strategy. Like no one was going to follow up.

Comment by Wordslinger Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 9:03 am
“Another day, another round of cuts because of not extending the 5% income tax rate.”

And not making the tax increase permanent to begin with.

“What a shock! Is there any credible talk or movement regarding some revenue enhancements? Any? Any at all? Again, what a shock.”

That’s also what I’m waiting for.

Comment by Grandson of Man Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 9:07 am
The Government doesn’t belong to these people, according to Rauner.

It belongs to him now.

Comment by chi Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 9:08 am
===State Sen. Dan Kotowski, one of two Senate appropriations chairs, called Thursday’s move a “stark contrast to the letters that were sent out on Good Friday without any notice.”===

Funny how being honest and forthcoming is received better than hiding or burying things and blaming others for…misunderstanding.

These are the Rauner Cuts, wether he finally tells people willfully or purposely, or tries to hope no one is paying attention.

Isn’t it ironic that a man who runs for Governor, spends over $60 million in a campaign focused on accountability and leadership still thinks owning his own decisions isn’t part of of the job he now holds?

Maybe Bruce Rauner’s real interpretation of shared sacrifice means blaming others for his “solutions”?

Maybe Bruce Rauner, who talks about shaking and bringing back is more about making “tought” decisions that he will most certainly blame on others, instead of being a leader and standing up and saying, “I believe in this, I believe these decisions are me, and I’m glad we worked together.”

No. It’s blame. It’s “no choice”. It’s refusing to accept his role, ironically, has consequences too, to his own image and seen priorities. “None of these are mine. It’s what was agreed.” A coward, hiding behind corrupt, career politicians, whom Rauner feels “leverage” is the best choice over common ground, at the expense of the ILGOP GA.

“State Sen. Dan Kotowski, one of two Senate appropriations chairs, called Thursday’s move a ’stark contrast to the letters that were sent out on Good Friday without any notice.’…”

That’s where we are, we are pleased with transparency.

When your Administration’s actions are measured under the gauge of transparency, lots needs to be learned, after 100 days.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 9:11 am
Trickle-down economics part 2.

Comment by Stones Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 9:15 am
If cuts like these, inflicted upon the least among us, are how Illinois becomes the most compassionate state, what would the cuts look like in the least compassionate state?

The unvarnished truth is that Rauner prefers to inflict pain on the poor rather than raise the income tax, which comes mainly from the top 12%.

Comment by nona Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 9:15 am
These cuts are small potatoes compared to all the cuts that will come with the FY16 budget. What do the Dems have to cough up in order to get new revenue for the FY16 Budget?

Comment by Mama Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 9:19 am
What can the working poor doing to help themselves against Rauner’s cuts?

Comment by Mama Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 9:21 am
=Maybe Bruce Rauner’s real interpretation of shared sacrifice means blaming others for his “solutions”?=

That, and making sure all the “sacrifice” is “shared” by those least able to absorb it.

Good grief. It’s like someone sat down and deliberately picked the cuts that would make them look the most like Dickens villains. Domestic violence victims and homeless kids? Well, they don’t vote anyway. Sickle cell clinic? Well, none of *my* friends have that problem! Community colleges? That’s just where poor kids go to school.

But yet, there’s money to give tax breaks to big corporations.

And, of course, this whole unnecessary bloodbath could have been avoided if the governor had had the maturity to put the welfare of the state and its people above his ideology in supporting the tax-hike extension. What folly. Plus, I’d bet a surprising number of Illinoisans would be happy to forgo the few extra dollars in our paychecks if it meant keeping poor, sick kids from having to live on the streets.

Just outrageous. Also, I don’t think they particularly deserve back-pats for not trying to sneak it through this time. Owning it is the least they could do.

Comment by Crispy Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 9:26 am
Any context around how much a $1.1M cut means to the DHS’ overall budget? Or $6.37M to IL Community Colleges’ overall budget? A bit of context would help.

Comment by nixit71 Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 9:32 am
After 12 years of Democratic crazy spending, without the revenue to support it, now difficult cuts are being put in place. Tough medicine, but absolutely necessary.

Comment by Apocalypse Now Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 9:33 am
- Apocalypse Now -,

Yep. The Rauner Cuts. People will remember “who” chose what. It was Rauner, it will be the Rauner Cuts.

These are the moves that destroy a party, even if you buy it, lock, stock, and barrel.

Are you … gleeful… - Apocalypse Now -?

Your hero hid over a holiday weekend when he gave the first “medicine”, at the cost of a “misunderstanding”.

I’m embarrased for you, but, if you want to punish, at least the Rauner Cuts are now in the light of day.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 9:40 am
=== - Apocalypse Now - Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 9:33 am:

After 12 years of Democratic crazy spending, without the revenue to support it, now difficult cuts are being put in place. Tough medicine, but absolutely necessary. ===

Are you kidding me? Without the revenue to support it??? Try that one again and get back to me about revenue.

I really wish I had a Right-Wing brain. Their logic is so much easier than mine.

Comment by Try-4-Truth Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 9:40 am
Governor Rauner, The regular folks that have been advising you need to take the following advice to capitalize on the momentum that you have bestowed on the people of Illinois. I am, of course, thinking of inviting Shawn Hannity to do a series of town hall meetings touting your turned around agenda. All good folks love, revere and respect Mr. H.
Release the hounds!

Comment by Montgomery C. Burns Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 9:43 am
“After 12 years of Democratic crazy spending, without the revenue to support it”

Who was it, again, that asked the Legislature not to extend the 5% tax rate?

Comment by Arsenal Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 9:47 am
AN: ==after 12 years of Democratic crazy spending== False and argumentative

==difficult cuts are being put into place== True

Well, you’re half right.

Comment by walker Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 9:49 am
==After 12 years of Democratic crazy spending==

You might want to go back and look at the George Ryan days also. Probably doesn’t fit in with your partisan ranting though.

Comment by Demoralized Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 9:50 am
The crying starts with the coming cuts will hurt the poor .. Patty Quinn raised spending 20 % after raising the income in 2011 .. unpaid bills were still unpaid…. taxpayers leaving the Illinois .. #1 in America Illinois #3 for illegals in America.. The number of people paying taxes is going down those coming to get free money in Illinois goes up

Comment by better days Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 9:58 am
This is what happens when you make promises that cannot be met because the ability to pay for those promises wasn’t created.

It stinks when you create programs that people depend upon, but don’t create a way to make those programs sustainable.

Our legendary blogger Bill and I both agreed, that although we were on opposite ends of the political spectrum, that any government programs need to be fully funded from a dependable tax revenue source so that citizens depended upon those programs won’t lose when economics trended downwards.

When government creates a life raft for its citizens, expect it to be overfilled most of the time. Any budgeting for them has to expect a greater demand than any rosy scenario painted when they were initially created.

We’ve had seen our political leaders over-promise and under-deliver. The politicians who promise but don’t deliver as a guilty of this mess as the politicians who don’t promise. Democrats have been like incompetent medical quacks who promise miracles and lies to Illinoisans about how problems would be magically solved, and Republicans get played as morticians who bury the victims and act like they enjoy it. No one wants to see the budget hearse at their front door.

Honesty dictates that when our legislators create new policies and programs to assist our citizens, they need to also tell us how much it will really cost and have the courage to send citizens paying for those policies and programs the bills.

Rauner was elected to do all he could to save Illinoisans clinging to those deliberately underfunded life rafts. Instead of displaying any empathy for the people whose lives have been negatively impacted by budget realities, he attacks them as unworthy freeloaders. He is playing the mortician like he is Vincent Price.

Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 10:02 am
- better days -,

You might need a better drive-by… that might even make sense.

===taxpayers leaving the Illinois===

Is that like The Facebook or The Twitter?

If you feel better, I’m happy for you.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 10:02 am
Reverse Robinhood Governor Bruce Rauner feels it absolutely necessary to sacrifice every last social service program for leverage against the legislature. Its a very sad way to govern, buts its his approach. Sit back pull up a chair and watch the dumpster fire!

Comment by BlameBruceRauner Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 10:07 am
===Republicans get played as morticians who bury the victims and act like they enjoy it. No one wants to see the budget hearse at their front door.===

These are the Rauner Cuts, driven by a Raunerite Agenda.

You - VanillaMan -, called Rauner, all too often “a blue governor”. lol, if you’d like, for the 3rd or fourth time, I’ll show you.

You do realize - VanillaMan - all your analysis and beliefs runs counter, often, to comments you made about your analysis and beliefs.

It’s Rauner and Raunerite ideas dragging on the ILGOP GA, not Republican ideals Illinois Republicans once stood for.

But Rauner is a “blue” governor, right?

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 10:08 am
More grist for the mill of whoever is campaign manager of Rauner’s opponent.

Comment by Hedley Lamarr Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 10:09 am
==Patty Quinn raised spending==

That would be to pay the full pension payments you dope.

==unpaid bills were still unpaid==

Actually unpaid bills were paid down. Dope again.

Ok, had my fun with the troll.

Comment by Demoralized Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 10:09 am
How are $100M in cuts less ‘heartless’ than his $26M? Because they were known about? Bottom line they will affect those least able to assimilate the cuts.

Every candidate for state or national office should be required to live in poverty for one straight year, no cheating, no reneging. Will give them a priceless and needed perspective.

Comment by sal-says Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 10:10 am
Better days, as the grandson of a former illegal immigrant, I find your comments to be both misguided and repugnant. My family took zero handouts. You belong in Russia where your outdated viewpoints still hold some sway.

Comment by Jorge Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 10:11 am
Better days
Bills STILL wont be paid, cause we still won’t have any extra money after cutting everything.

Our state needs a robust graduated tax system, not an antiquated flat tax. We need to get our heads out of the 1942 clouds and tax people with more money at higher rates period. Your comments about illegals and people leaving Illinois are laughable.

Comment by BlameBruceRauner Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 10:14 am
Love the fantasy “Rauner the Budget Cutter” theme.

The dude just swept $1.3 billion in revenue from dedicated funds. That’s:

$1,300,000,000 new revenue

$26,000,000 cuts.

Those zeroes are powerful, aren’t they?

His FY16 budget has at least $3 billion in phony “savings” plus a grab back of local income tax. He’s not a budget cutter, he’s a budget punter.

The $26 million in cuts is meaningless in regards to state spending. A rounding error of a rounding error. Picking pepper out of fly s—.

The point is, Mr, Businessman and his Band of Superstars are admitting that they couldn’t find management efficiencies in running a hot dog stand, much less a state.

Their only “solutions” the high-priced talent can come up with are Social Darwinist cuts that have no bearing on overall spending, but are very revealing as to ideology.

Comment by Wordslinger Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 10:16 am
=After 12 years of Democratic crazy spending, without the revenue to support it, now difficult cuts are being put in place. Tough medicine, but absolutely necessary.=

Any painful reductions in motorcycle license land? Any “tough medicine” for hedge fund managers that like to toughen up by riding Harley’s on the weekend? Didn’t think so.

Zeroing out free motorcycle license training classes could allow for the restoration of some important services (tough medicine) for free loading kids with autism, but I guess that isn’t one of the critical cuts yet.

Must be up there next to supporting polo pony training.

Comment by JS Mill Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 10:28 am
And the Rauner War on the Poor continues.

Comment by D.P.Gumby Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 10:35 am
These lines from VanillaMan deserve highlighting: Rauner was elected to do all he could to save Illinoisans clinging to those deliberately underfunded life rafts. Instead of displaying any empathy for the people whose lives have been negatively impacted by budget realities, he attacks them as unworthy freeloaders.

If only more of us had recognized Rauner’s pattern of behavior and seen this coming…

– MrJM

Comment by MrJM Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 10:48 am
Focusing on 2015 alone, they closed a 1.6B gap with 1.3B in funds transfers which can be seen as “new revenue” and a 300M cut in budgeted “spending.” It required both to reach a balanced budget, and it was much more revenue than cuts.

To be fair, Rauner’s only had three months on the job, so the ratio between new revenues and spending might be off when considering possibilities for balancing fiscal 2016.

However, there is no way the 1.6B “revenue” from funds transfers will be recurring in 2016, the taking back of half the tax revenues previously going to localities is shaky, and Rauner’s proposal so far includes at least 2.2B in fake pension saves which are legally unachievable. He also assumes 235M gain in productivity and efficiency as achievable. (So much for waste, fraud, and abuse.)

So Word is right. We’ve seen no evidence that Rauner can cut his way to a balanced 2016 budget, even with his own best case. The solution will require some major infusion of new cash. The ratio for new revenues vs. spending cuts might not remain at 1.6 to .3 for the next budget, but it certainly won’t be entirely reversed.

Comment by walker Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 10:53 am
Will the $1.3 bil in sweeps money be available again next year? Or was that a multi-year piggy bank we raided? If it is available, then it is essentially a new revenue stream. If not, it is another hole. But thats ok, more leverage. Pay lower wages and bust the unions, or the autistic kids get it.

Probably a dumb question, but are the working groups repubs only? Rauners comment about being in touch w all the leaders, and forming working groups, was confusing.

Comment by Langhorne Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 10:56 am
Langhorn you just reminded me of a scene from that Weird Al Movie UHF. Where the use car salesman says come on down and buy a car from me today or I’ll club this baby seal to death!
Funny comparing Bruce to a seal clubbing used car salesmen.

Comment by BlameBruceRauner Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 11:05 am
=== What can the working poor doing to help themselves against Rauner’s cuts? ===

They can follow the advice that conservatives have always given the poor: Pull yourselves up by your own bootstraps!

=== Reverse Robinhood…Social Darwinist cuts….And the Rauner War on the Poor continues…===

The Rauner plan should be called “class warfare.” That term ought not be a GOP monopoly to be trotted out only when someone suggests taxation be based upon ability to pay.

Comment by nona Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 11:07 am
my comment 10:53 above: All references to “new revenues” should be 1.3B not 1.6. The point remains however. Sorry.

Comment by walker Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 11:11 am
A 2.25 percent across the board budget cut needs to be addressed by each agency that received this cut, along with the swept money, to get through this fiscal year. Cuts are painful but the new fiscal year is where the focus needs to be.

Comment by The Colossus of Roads Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 11:20 am
Whats donna arduin been up to?

Comment by foster brooks Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 11:24 am
@- foster brooks - Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 11:24 am:

“Whats donna arduin been up to?”

Taking that sweet heart salary (pardon me - well earned consulting fee) and chopping the heck out of autisic kid assistance, and poor people heating assistance.

Comment by How Ironic Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 11:30 am
==A 2.25 percent across the board budget cut ==

I get that number sounds small to people. But that cut is magnified 4 times since it is occurring so late in the fiscal year.

Comment by Demoralized Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 11:48 am
==- Mama - Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 9:21 am:

What can the working poor doing to help themselves against Rauner’s cuts? ==

Die, and decrease the surplus population.

Comment by jerry 101 Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 12:00 pm
– What’s Donna Arduin been up to –

Feeding her business partners Laffer and Moore, plus her goombah Forbes, talking points for op-eds praising Rauner as a revolutionary.

That was the point of that superstar hire; national publicity for Rauner, on the taxpayer dime.

Comment by Wordslinger Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 12:13 pm
@9:33 am “now difficult cuts are being put in place. Tough medicine, but absolutely necessary.”

Rauner was elected governor not king. Any cuts to needed programs must pass the General Assembly.

It is more likely that there will be an income tax increase. This is really tough medicine for some people, but necessary.

Comment by Enviro Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 1:12 pm
== What can the working poor doing to help themselves against Rauner’s cuts? ==

Rauner’s answer: buy a business, bust it out, declare bankruptcy, and become rich like he did. Problem solved.

Comment by RNUG Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 1:39 pm
== Rauner was elected to do all he could to save Illinoisans clinging to those deliberately underfunded life rafts. Instead of displaying any empathy for the people whose lives have been negatively impacted by budget realities, he attacks them as unworthy freeloaders. ==

Actually, he was elected to stop the income tax from being extended because he promised he could fix the problem without it.

Except for the 1%, Illinois citizens are instead getting a painful lesson in math.

Comment by RNUG Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 1:41 pm
Government of the people, by the 1%, for the 1% …

Comment by RNUG Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 1:51 pm
RNUG: the Government is OF the 1% as well. They own it.

Comment by IllinoisBoi Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 2:24 pm
- RNUG -, you are On. It.

===Actually, he was elected to stop the income tax from being extended because he promised he could fix the problem without it.===

Very well put with an understanding what was at play.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 2:26 pm
Meanwhile we have a State pie and a huge push to assist Heroin addicts. Cut the you know what out of ALL other social programs BUT! get 25million new funding for Heroin addicts.
These guys are in lala land!!!!!!!!

Comment by real one Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 3:02 pm
real one @3:02 pm
==25million new funding for Heroin addicts.==

It is estimated that for every $1 invested in addiction treatment programs there is a return of $4 to $7 in reduced drug-related crime, criminal justice costs, and theft. With costs related to healthcare included, savings can exceed costs by a ratio of 12 to 1.

http://www.drugabuse.gov
Is drug addiction treatment worth its cost?

Comment by Enviro Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 3:48 pm
How is the $100K First Lady of IL CoS doing? Is she doing okay? Wouldn’t want her essential funding cut.

Comment by Precinct Captain Friday, Apr 24, 15 @ 4:20 pm