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Attacked from the left flank

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Illinois

* The governor and legislative Republicans have all spoken against the Democrats’ proposed one-month budget, which the Senate could vote on again today.

But other opposition is out there as well. For instance, this was sent a few days ago by the Illinois Partners for Human Services…

“Realizing the immediate impact the budget stalemate is already having on large groups of the most vulnerable Illinois residents, the lawmakers in Springfield have come up with a temporary, short-term budget to keep some resources flowing. But the proposed temporary budget does little to relieve the distress now facing human service providers across the state. Entire services, such as homeless youth, early childhood intervention, and after school programs are ignored altogether in this Band-Aid budget. Even for the services that are funded, a month-only commitment provides little security. Politicians need to stop trying to score political points and do the responsible work of creating a year-long budget that doesn’t leave our most at-risk families out in the cold.”

* The Responsible Budget Coalition…

The one-month budget measure fails to provide the stability that service providers, businesses, families, communities, and our economy need to prosper.  

The proposal fails to fund many services that are critical to families and communities, such as after-school programs for kids and services for people with HIV and those who may become homeless. It also neglects to fund vital state operations - like the Department of Revenue - which are necessary for daily government functions and services.  

Even if this measure is signed into law, service providers will have to close their doors and state agencies will be forced to cut vital services for families.

Our leaders need to recognize that families and communities are more than line items that they can pick and choose from. The only real choice to make is how to raise the revenue we need to invest in our future.

The Governor and the General Assembly need to immediately end this senseless crisis by passing a fully funded, year-long budget.

* And Voices for Illinois Children sent this out today…

As you know, despite warnings from bond houses that a failure to maintain 2014 tax rates would cause serious harm to Illinois’ families, lawmakers chose to cut taxes. Now Illinois has a $5-6 billion revenue gap, and neither the Governor nor lawmakers have developed a plan to fully fund a year-long budget that invests in children, families, and communities.

Click here to ask lawmakers and the Governor to choose revenue to fully fund a year-long budget.

A proposed one-month “emergency” budget is making its way through the General Assembly, but Voices does not support it because it fails to fund many services that are critical to families and communities, such as after-school programs for kids and services for people with HIV and those who may become homeless. The proposal also fails to fund vital state operations — like the Department of Revenue — which are necessary for daily government functions and services.

The truth is that even if the “emergency” budget passes, service providers will have to close their doors and state agencies will be forced to cut vital services for families. This budget does not buy more time for many service providers and the people they serve before their programs and lives start to fall apart.

It’s time for the Governor and lawmakers to consider the many options available to them in order to fully fund programs that invest in children, families, and communities.

We’ll be in touch again soon. Thanks for supporting children and families.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jul 14, 15 @ 12:07 pm

Comments

I wouldn’t call that an attack; it seems more like a cry for help.

Comment by JackD Tuesday, Jul 14, 15 @ 12:09 pm
==Our leaders==

Plural.

Comment by Formerly Known As... Tuesday, Jul 14, 15 @ 12:10 pm
It makes sense. Why would the social services advocates be excluded from thinking this is no way to run a railroad?

Comment by DuPage Don Tuesday, Jul 14, 15 @ 12:15 pm
And, aside from raising the Illinois income tax, those “many options” are….?

Comment by Cassandra Tuesday, Jul 14, 15 @ 12:19 pm
Pretty much sounds exactly what Lisa’s AG’s office has been saying.
===Ultimately, as we have repeatedly said, the only way to fully resolve this unfortunate and damaging situation is for the Governor and the Legislature to do their jobs and enact a budget.”===

Comment by Been There Tuesday, Jul 14, 15 @ 12:25 pm
Before the State got into the business people relied on family and friends to help. It may come back to that.

Comment by Keyser Soze Tuesday, Jul 14, 15 @ 12:26 pm
“Before the State got into the business people relied on family and friends to help. It may come back to that.”

Looking forward to the Hoovervilles, Not everyone has family and friends that can help.

Comment by a drop in Tuesday, Jul 14, 15 @ 12:30 pm
These three press releases seem to lump the responsibility onto all parties.

Comment by Team Sleep Tuesday, Jul 14, 15 @ 12:32 pm
How is CMS paying for the temps they have hired to “job shadow” state employees? Where the approp for that? Are they getting paid?

Comment by Sickofit Tuesday, Jul 14, 15 @ 12:33 pm
Forgot to fund the Dept. of Revenue in the 1 month bandaid - Brilliant.

How bout while their at it, they put some teeth in their collection process and go after the 20 Billion in uncollected taxes!

Comment by WhoKnew Tuesday, Jul 14, 15 @ 12:44 pm
I don’t recall anyone saying the one month budget being a perfect solution… or even an adequate one. This is a bare bones attempt to stall but making sure employees get paid. I don’t think anyone likes it. But its better than a shut down.

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Tuesday, Jul 14, 15 @ 12:48 pm
Rauner started this whole mess back when he submitted an unbalanced budget after taking office violating Article VIII, Section 2 of the Illinois Constitution.
From that day forward Bruce Rauner has taken ownership of this years mess.

Comment by Bulldog58 Tuesday, Jul 14, 15 @ 12:56 pm
Ducky - you and I are in complete agreement. CRs - though not ideal - are done on a regular basis at the federal level. They ensure seniors are paid Social Security, ensure our military personnel are paid, ensure doctors are reimbursed for Medicare and ensure security measures are kept in place. When a long-term deal is in doubt, give me a 1-2 month bridge any time and come back when cooler heads prevail.

At this point, I wish they would pass something that would carry us until mid-September. Come back the week of Labor Day and has something out after we all have had 2 months to simmer down.

Comment by Team Sleep Tuesday, Jul 14, 15 @ 1:20 pm
What JackD said.

The next time the one month budget comes up for a vote, make it a two-month budget, and offer more amendments to include these affected organizations.

The most noteworthy thing in there is that the Diana Rauner-backed group says its a $5-^ billion REVENUE gap and blames both institutions equally (note Emily Miller, should be Governor and General Assembly). Kudos to Voices for not personalizing it by naming Governor Rauner or legislators individually.

Comment by Juvenal Tuesday, Jul 14, 15 @ 1:24 pm
Rauner requested and got the income tax rate to not be extended. He said he would be able to balance the budget without it. Rauner failed.
Rauner also fails at math, a third grader would see that his numbers did not add up.

Comment by DuPage Tuesday, Jul 14, 15 @ 1:37 pm
People are complaining about the cuts now, wait till the proposals come out about taxes to be raised, to prevent the cuts! Then you will hear from the anti tax increase people! You can not have it both ways, and please everyone!

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jul 14, 15 @ 2:35 pm
A lot of the people complaining about taxes are the ones hit hardest by the state’s regressive tax system. In turn they become against taxes without distinguishing between regressive and progressive tax systems.

What Illinois needs is a system that increases revenue and shifts the burden off working people.

Comment by Southern Illinois Hoopdee Tuesday, Jul 14, 15 @ 2:45 pm
- Keyser Soze - Tuesday, Jul 14, 15 @ 12:26 pm:

“Before the State got into the business people relied on family and friends to help.”

Historical Myth Alert! There IS no “Before the State got into the business.” You can go beck to the Middle Ages, you can go back to the Puritans, you can study the early Republic, heck, you can even study the late-19th Century. There simply never was a time when the government did not help the poor and indigent. I was just reading a petition to the GA written by Lincoln. Same thing. Except for sociopath dictatorships, ALL governments help the poor. What do you think Jesus’ problem with Herod was? Kosher law?

Comment by History Prof Tuesday, Jul 14, 15 @ 3:41 pm
Thank you for the history lesson. But, back on point, and in context, it was merely pointed out that what some characterize as “vital services” were once provided by friends, neighbors, and family. That used to work pretty well, for example, with after school child care. Self help may not apply to all things but it works for a great many.

Comment by Keyser Soze Tuesday, Jul 14, 15 @ 4:42 pm
I’m a little weary of this spin that “Raunere started it! Raunere started it!”. So I guess what you are actually saying is that the gov’s budget numbers didn’t add up but there were no adults in the General assembly who could figure out how to make that right? And unless I am mistaken, the General Assembly dropped the “temporary” income tax increase before Rauner was in office, and hardly because they wanted to be good team players. I think our esteemed legislators own that bit of irresponsible incompetence.

Comment by Albatros Tuesday, Jul 14, 15 @ 5:20 pm
(Sigh)

===So I guess what you are actually saying is that the gov’s budget numbers didn’t add up but there were no adults in the General assembly who could figure out how to make that right?===

The Governor is suppose to propose a budget. Are you saying Bruce Rauner isn’t up to the job. It’s ssy in the Constitution, governor proposes. It’s. His. Job.

===And unless I am mistaken, the General Assembly dropped the “temporary” income tax increase before Rauner was in office, and hardly because they wanted to be good team players. I think our esteemed legislators own that bit of irresponsible incompetence.===

The General Assembly did as Bruce Rauner wanted. Rauner wanted. What, now Rauner doesn’t even own what he asked for? LOL

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jul 14, 15 @ 5:48 pm
@OW

Why is it so easy to confuse people with the truth? LOL

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Tuesday, Jul 14, 15 @ 10:01 pm
- Ducky LaMoore -,

The Rauner Crew has done a really good job with their narrative(?)

lol

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jul 14, 15 @ 10:47 pm