Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Mrs. Rauner’s group joins “formal complaint,” request for investigation

Posted in:

Illinois

* Check out the groups listed at the end of this press release…

Today, Voices for Illinois Children, along with other early childhood education advocates, submitted a formal complaint and request for an official investigation into the harmful cuts to Illinois’ child care program enacted unilaterally by Governor Rauner and the Illinois Department of Human Services. The complaint and request for an investigation were submitted to the Department of Human Services and the Members of the Joint Committee on Administrative rules, the body responsible for assessing the validity of the rulemaking process.

“The Department of Human Services, under the direction of Governor Rauner, failed to follow procedures required by the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act when they radically changed the child care system in Illinois,” said Emily Miller, Policy and Advocacy Director at Voices for Illinois Children.

On July 1, 2015, Governor Rauner improperly used emergency rulemaking to change the Child Care Assistance Program, or CCAP. The purpose of CCAP is to ensure that low-income, working families have access so safe, quality early learning environments for their children.

As a direct result of the Governor’s actions, 90% of low-income families who apply for CCAP are being denied.

“We hope that once the Governor reflects on the detrimental impact his actions continue to have on our families and communities, he will voluntarily rescind the rule,” concluded Miller. “If the Governor fails to stop the cuts to child care, we request that JCAR complete their investigation, object to the rule, and require the Department of Human to rescind it.”

Children’s Home and Aid, Illinois Action for Children, the Ounce of Prevention Fund, and Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law joined Voices for Illinois Children in filing the complaint and request for investigation.

Emphasis added for obvious reasons.

You gotta respect that woman’s guts.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jul 30, 15 @ 10:01 am

Comments

Is Arduin out of sight, out of control?

Comment by walker Thursday, Jul 30, 15 @ 10:06 am
Mrs. Rauner will announce today the results of her investigation into Gov. Rauner’s desk drawer.

Comment by Tournaround Agenda Thursday, Jul 30, 15 @ 10:06 am
Must make for some interesting conversation at the Rauner dinner table.

Comment by Sir Reel Thursday, Jul 30, 15 @ 10:07 am
You gotta respect that woman’s guts.

With all due respect, Rich, I see someone who wants to have her cake and eat it too.

– MrJM

Comment by @MisterJayEm Thursday, Jul 30, 15 @ 10:08 am
You choose your priorities, and the governor chose to make this as one of his in the early days of his administration.

Comment by Wordslinger Thursday, Jul 30, 15 @ 10:09 am
Dear Mrs. Rauner,

The Governor demands that your kiddie group stand down from its petty, baseless attacks.
That will be all.

Thanks!
ck

Comment by Slide Thursday, Jul 30, 15 @ 10:12 am
HBO - “Dad’s Home State” - Season 1, Eposide 12

Bruce continues to unfund social services in his home state while Diana signs a letter to investigate why Bruce is doing it, while putting her own state employee in a bind. Bruce rides his Harley to state park, finds out its closed. Goldberg writes “another” letter. Comedy, 62 minutes.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jul 30, 15 @ 10:12 am
Guts or cover. It will be interesting to see how JCAR handles this. They were a blast to watch during G-Rod’s administration.

Comment by Not quite a majority Thursday, Jul 30, 15 @ 10:13 am
I’m thinking Dr. Rauner got a lot of heat from her leadership group and board. She’s a developmental psychologist and should be adhering to her professional, ethical obligations.

Comment by Former Hoosier Thursday, Jul 30, 15 @ 10:15 am
The blame can be laid at the feet of Speaker Madigan and the low-income working families he controls.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jul 30, 15 @ 10:22 am
Purely a guess, but my bet is Rauner wasn’t even aware of this “emergency rule change” that suddenly made 90% of poor children applicants ineligible. Makes one wonder what other things are being done outside the normal process.

Comment by walker Thursday, Jul 30, 15 @ 10:23 am
@Oswego - Brilliant stuff! I want a new episode description every day.

Comment by s2qs Thursday, Jul 30, 15 @ 10:23 am
Good point on Darth Arduin walker

Comment by Honeybear Thursday, Jul 30, 15 @ 10:26 am
===@Oswego - Brilliant stuff! I want a new episode description every day.===

Thank you, but I can’t keep up with the reality show going on with their own comedy gold. See: Rauner Adminstration Press Releases

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jul 30, 15 @ 10:28 am
So everything is an entitlement now!

Comment by Let'sMovetoFlorida Thursday, Jul 30, 15 @ 10:29 am
- Let’sMovetoFlorida -, you must not be married, or the word “irony” only means to you your shirt is “really pressed good”.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jul 30, 15 @ 10:31 am
I suggest every interest group or organization that somehow relates to a state agency also file a complaint.

Everything form prisons to public universities.

Comment by Federalist Thursday, Jul 30, 15 @ 10:39 am
Of course this may not be any of her fault.
She knows the man.
She may not have voted for him.

Comment by Bluegrass Boy Thursday, Jul 30, 15 @ 10:46 am
…and what if Ounce did NOT join in this request? Then what would be said. There’s no winning for her in this situation, just “losing less”.

Comment by A guy Thursday, Jul 30, 15 @ 10:48 am
I admire the guts of the parents and children being denied help a lot more than I do those of a millionaire who lives in 10 houses and vouched for the guy in those adorable smiley commercials last fall.

Comment by Willie Stark Thursday, Jul 30, 15 @ 10:49 am
I don’t think it takes guts to stand up for your cause, even if it goes against her husband’s decisions. Besides, think of the negative backlash she would receive if she didn’t include her organization.

Comment by Wensicia Thursday, Jul 30, 15 @ 10:50 am
===…and what if Ounce did NOT join in this request? Then what would be said. There’s no winning for her in this situation, just “losing less”.===

I guess Mrs. Rauner keepin’ her job might not be good for her husband.

But she voted for him, so there’s that…

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jul 30, 15 @ 10:50 am
Dear Diana,

Don’t you remember what I told you at the dinner table last month? My turnaround agenda is going to solve all of the cuts to social agencies that help children, the elderly, those with developmental disabilities, those with autism, etc. The boost in revenue that the turnaround agenda will bring in through increased economic activity, will allow me to refund all of these programs. Ms. Arduin told me so. I’ll pick up some milk on the way home.
Bruce

Comment by Joe M Thursday, Jul 30, 15 @ 10:51 am
Mr. And Mrs. Rauner’s marriage counselor is clearly corrupt and under Madigan’s control.

Comment by AC Thursday, Jul 30, 15 @ 10:55 am
Appealing to the IL Dept of Human Services is a waste of time given that it was that agency that filed the rules being objected to. I suspect it’s an attempt at administrative exhaustion prior to litigation.

I can see nothing in the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act (IAPA) [5 ILCS 100] that would allow JCAR to suspend Emergency Rule making prior to 180 days only without a 3/5 (8 members) vote.

I don’t see Ron Sandack, Althoff, Sen Brady, Letich, Senator McConnaughay, or Tyron breaking ranks with the Governor. In fact I don’t even know if JCAR will call for a hearing. So another take on Ms Rauner’s organization’s endorsement of the appeal is that in the most immediate sense it is just part of a PR process and will have no substance to change the Governor’s policies in this area.

Comment by Rod Thursday, Jul 30, 15 @ 10:58 am
No good deed goes unpunished! /s

Comment by A guy Thursday, Jul 30, 15 @ 11:04 am
“Mrs. Rauner, we thought you’d help, but you’re proven to be as ‘helpful’ as the next person dealing with your husband…”

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jul 30, 15 @ 11:04 am
After the rule changes, for a family of four to qualify for child care assistance cannot earn over $1011 a month. That is less than minimum wage for a full time employee (6.31). I don’t know where you can find daycare for less than $5 an hour and that is cheap. So apparently they think it is better that people not work?

Comment by burbanite Thursday, Jul 30, 15 @ 11:17 am
Rod: How much of this “emergency rule making” do you think is occurring in the Agencies right now? How would one know?

Comment by walker Thursday, Jul 30, 15 @ 11:19 am
I also respect the guts of Mrs. Rauner’s coworkers. Can’t be easy asking her to sign on to things like these. (unless she herself is pushing it).

Comment by Robert the Bruce Thursday, Jul 30, 15 @ 11:29 am
I respect Bruce Rauner for understanding that his wife is a person of her own, who doesn’t have to subordinate her every waking moment to his career.

One of the few things I am respecting about Gov Rauner, these days, but fair’s fair.

Comment by Harry Thursday, Jul 30, 15 @ 11:50 am
We shall see, Harry, we shall see…

Comment by Slide Thursday, Jul 30, 15 @ 12:19 pm
There are actually two separate rulemakings in play here: the emergency rule that took effect July 1 for 150 days, and the proposed permanent rule that has to go through the entire process of public comment and JCAR review before it can take effect. Although the content of the rules is nearly identical, the processes are different and should not be confused.

JCAR already has the emergency rule on its Aug. 11 meeting agenda, and can take action on that rule at any time during its 150 day life.

DHS, meanwhile, must schedule a public hearing on the proposed permanent rulemaking in the near future if requested to do so by any group or association representing more than 100 people who would be affected (Voices, et al, would meet that criteria). Comments received at the public hearing would then be submitted to JCAR when the agency is ready to adopt the permanent rule.

Because the emergency rule can only last 150 days (it will expire on or about Nov. 27) DHS will most likely submit the permanent rule for JCAR review in October or early November, in order to get it adopted before the emergency expires.

Comment by Secret Square Thursday, Jul 30, 15 @ 12:21 pm
Should be some interesting pillow talk at Manor Rauner…

Comment by Commonsense in Illinois Thursday, Jul 30, 15 @ 12:25 pm
The governor has both a governmental and political agenda.Mrs. Governor has only a governmental and social agenda.

Now we will see if the governor understands that political gestures have consequences.

And simply telling his wife that human services funding will increase after implementing his political agenda is the Illinois equivalent of “trickle down” . There is no assurance that a Republican administration would fully fund community based human services, even if adequate revenues were available.

Comment by Capitol View Thursday, Jul 30, 15 @ 12:52 pm
So much for the theory that Rauner’s wife would be a moderating influence …

Comment by globalguy Thursday, Jul 30, 15 @ 12:57 pm
As a daycare provider who charges from 20 to 30 per day I can not believe under the old rules a single mom could make 29000 per year and qualify for a subsidy. Please someone explain subsidized birth control to these women

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jul 30, 15 @ 1:03 pm
It seems to me that Business Man Bruce simply doesn’t respect the work that Diana and other human service professionals and organization do to support the people of Illinois. He seems to think he can swot away these kinds of social issues like some annoying fly in his turnaround agenda, leaving her to fight him and fight the system just to get a little attention for the cause.

Comment by Jane Doe Thursday, Jul 30, 15 @ 1:12 pm
Secret Square: Thanks for the info.

Comment by walker Thursday, Jul 30, 15 @ 1:15 pm
These emergency rules are devastating and actually hint at the potential of an even worse implementation. The emergency language gives the Department authority to reduce participation to an even lower than the current whiplash level about which the complaint has been filed.

“To the extent resources permit, ….If it is necessary to limit…to stay within the amounts appropriated or resources available….” (Section 50.230 of Title 89 (DHS), Ch IV, sub a Part 50 (Child Care). Of course I butchered the citation.

Sure hope that DHS isn’t being billed for other agency expenses like salaries, etc. They have a 71% cut coming when Rauner submits his balanced budget. /s

Once again Rauner’s admin actions are contradictory to his publicly stated intentions.

The CCAP program allows low-income children to attend high quality child care programs. The Gov Office of Early Childhood Development PRESIDES OVER most of what is going on in child care today. It is very difficult to provide Quality to Society if the bill isn’t getting paid. Low income children, and probably a greater percentage are minority, are hurt the most.

Rauner presides over this (copied straight from the Gov’s website) –
“The Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Development (OECD) leads the state’s initiatives to create an integrated system of quality, early learning and development programs to help give ALL ILLINOIS CHILDREN * a strong educational foundation before they begin kindergarten.”

(*unless your parent is — an unemployable ex-con/felon, under-employed, a very low level employee, or is working at any job which might be done by a person of lower-cognitive/physical abilities.)

Mr. Gov OECD continues — “Research shows that children with a solid educational foundation in their first five years are significantly more likely to be successful in school, college, career and life. … to focus the state’s efforts and maximize its investment in early learning programs. Quality, early childhood education is a cost-effective strategy to promote growth. Every dollar invested in early education saves $7 in special education, public assistance, corrections and lost taxes.

We should all look forward to this guy’s actions supporting his public words.
And I look forward to taxpayers realizing that there are very good things happening in Early Education but it does take a village.

Thank you for your attention.

Comment by cdog Thursday, Jul 30, 15 @ 1:19 pm
For those who want to know how much emergency rulemaking is going on among State agencies, check the “Public Notices” section of the agency websites or check the weekly Illinois Register every Friday at the SOS website. New rules generally appear in the Register 10-17 days after they are filed. 45-day public comment periods for proposed rulemakings begin on the date of Register publication.

Comment by Secret Square Thursday, Jul 30, 15 @ 1:30 pm