Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Today’s number: 10 percent

Posted in:

Illinois

An anchor of the neighborhood for 21 years, Wee Are the World Child Care is a haven not just for kids, but for their mostly low-wage parents. The parents can get a toehold in the workforce while knowing that their children will be safe and school-ready, thanks to a government-subsidized program.

But under new cost-cutting measures that went into effect July 1, the Child Care Assistance Program has essentially put a freeze on future applicants. Stricter income guidelines have slashed the amount an applicant can earn, so now only 10 percent of families once considered eligible qualify, experts say. For a family of three, that means an annual income of about $10,000, a decrease from roughly $37,000 previously. […]

It is the new income levels that require new applicants earn 50 percent or less of the poverty level that early childhood advocates consider the most draconian.

“The front door of the program has been locked — and this was done administratively — without vote or public debate,” said Maria Whelan, director of Illinois Action for Children, a nonprofit. “We have literally pulled the rug out from under these parents, who are doing exactly what we told them to do — go to work.”

The Senate today passed a bill that would negate the governor’s rule changes. The legislation now goes to the House.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 11:42 am

Comments

Wee Are the World Child Care.

Hee! How could you not support an organization with that name?

Comment by the Other Anonymous Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 11:44 am
“I have vetoed this bill in its entirety. Illinois cannot afford to have low-income parents working until Speaker Madigan and the politicians he controls make real, union-busting reforms.”

Comment by Tournaround Agenda Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 11:44 am
Pay no attention to what politicians say, watch what they do.

The governor gave $100 million in handouts to profitable corporations such as Capitol One and EBay, then unilaterally shut down a key component of an overwhelmingly bipartisan welfare-to-work initiative.

Both of those actions were at his sole discretion.

Priorities.

Comment by Wordslinger Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 11:48 am
The idea that Rauner is responsible for this is getting shop worn fast. Who bankrupted the state for the last 15 years?

Comment by John A Logan Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 11:49 am
a single parent working a fulltime, minimum wage job in Chicago is considered to wealthy by the Rauner administration to need child care.

Did anyone get a direct quote from Rauner’s $30,000 a month early education expert/education czar explaining that policy?

Comment by Juvenal Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 11:50 am
==Illinois cannot afford to have low-income parents working until Speaker Madigan and the politicians he controls make real, union-busting reforms.==

Basically, that’s what he said in a statement to the media yesterday.

Comment by Wensicia Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 11:52 am
The central premise of the mid-90’s welfare reform was to move as many people as possible off of welfare and into the low income workforce. Fast forward 20 years later to the Republicans war on the poor and they seem determined to eliminate workforce assistance programs like this one, essentially reversing that trend.

Are they not aware of the consequences of the programs they’re trying to eliminate? It’s baffling.

Comment by The Captain Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 11:52 am
So this is how Illinois becomes the most compassionate state, by disqualifying most of the working poor from child care.

Comment by nona Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 11:54 am
So, let me get this straight: We’re going to demand that parents work (AOK).

But we’ll block them from the child care help they need to do so (not at all OK).

And we’re going to continue to shriek about unemployment and job losses, even as parents have to quit work and these child care providers (small businesses) are shutting down across the state (really, infuriatingly not OK).

This is a willful dismantling of low income parents’ work supports and an important job sector.

A single mom of two kids can’t make more than $10K or she’s disqualified from child care help? Give me a break!

Comment by Linus Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 11:55 am
Well done, Senate!

Comment by Archiesmom Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 11:55 am
Can they also put boundaries around the Governor’s ability to make “emergency rule changes” without prompt review? JCAR can review this, but only after it’s been in effect for months.

Comment by walker Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 11:56 am
Here are the votes from the Senate:

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/votehistory/99/senate/09900SB0570_08052015_001000T.pdf

Comment by Anon221 Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 11:57 am
Anon221, why bother to post the vote. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out who voted for it and who didn’t.

Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 12:11 pm
“Who bankrupted the state for the last 15 years?”

Baby Boomers?

Comment by Educated in the Suburbs Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 12:22 pm
It’s still worth a look to see who votes for what, Norseman. Even when it breaks down party lines, as it almost always has this year, it’s still interesting. At least to me. (YMMV.)

Especially the no vote records. I mean, unless you’re ill, isn’t the essence of your job as a legislator to vote on something, even if it’s a run-away-from-this-one Present vote?

Comment by thunderspirit Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 12:28 pm
Has anyone checked out Ms. Whelan’s salary lately?

Comment by Principessa Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 12:29 pm
Please note: the new enrollment restrictions contained in the emergency rule — and in a companion proposed permanent rule — specifically apply ONLY when DHS lacks sufficient funding or appropriations to accommodate all applicants. Established eligibility criteria for new applicants resume when DHS gets sufficient funding. This is all spelled out in the emergency and proposed rules. (The increased co-pays and other provisions, however, are intended to be permanent rule changes.)

Comment by Secret Square Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 12:31 pm
“Can they also put boundaries around the Governor’s ability to make “emergency rule changes” without prompt review?”

SB 570 removes language currently in statute that specifically allows DHS to use emergency rulemaking to stay within its CCAP appropriations for a given fiscal year.

Comment by Secret Square Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 12:39 pm
Umm…the governor also changed the rules for free/reduced lunches in Illinois. I guess they missed that one.

I am sure poor families can find some cake to eat.

Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 12:56 pm
JS-

What are his “new” guideline? Don’t they have to follow the Federal- http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2015-03-31/pdf/2015-07358.pdf ?

Other background: http://frac.org/federal-foodnutrition-programs/national-school-lunch-program/eligibility/

Comment by Anon221 Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 1:06 pm
==Who bankrupted the state for the last 15 years?==

One of the main reasons the State is in such trouble financially is a result of the State skipping of modifying its pension contributions, in order to keep a 3% income tax rate for 20 years. And both Democrat and Republican Governors and legislators participated in that.

Comment by Joe M Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 1:18 pm
JL, how is the governor not responsible for unilaterally changing the rules on his own?

Comment by Wordslinger Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 1:34 pm
Wordslinger @ 1:34 pm == how is the governor not responsible for unilaterally changing the rules on his own?==
Because if Speaker Madigan and the legislators he controls had passed a balanced budget, there would be no emergency that needed a rule. The Governor has no complicity in the lack of a budget. I know that is the answer you were afraid to express.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 2:06 pm
Anonymous…The Governor has no complicity? You do know he’s the Governor, right?

Comment by sideline watcher Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 3:01 pm
It stinks, but that is the reason we need changes. This is really pressuring pols to get somethign done, you would hope. instead of having a budget impasse, but funding everything that feels good, this needs to be done. They need to reform and pass a budget.

Comment by Wumpus Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 3:03 pm
It’s pretty sick that these service providers had to beg so much for the release of federal dollars. What exactly does this administration value?

Comment by Politix Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 4:12 pm
GOP leadership were “no” votes. But even more Republicans voted ” present. ” That’s a tough “no” vote to explain by anyone. What’s the rationale? It doesn’t work as leverage.

Comment by walker Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 5:26 pm
I’m a bit angry that my own Dem senator has a NV by his name.

Comment by Politix Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 6:12 pm
@Annon221- “His” new guidelines are reverting back to the federal income qualifications from medicaid as a basis for qualifying for free and reduced lunch. Last year people were pre-qualified if the were medicaid eligible. This was apparently over and above the federal requirements.

Per the ISBE (we called them and were informed of the change) the Governor ordered the change. Could have been one of his people but I am making the assumption that any order would have required his signature. Either way, he owns the change.

I know this to be true because many folks that were pre qualified last year due to medicaid did not qualify this year. I have talked to a couple of other superintendents this week (I learned of it last Friday)and none knew of the change. My guess is they didn’t want to announce this one.

Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 9:23 pm
@Word- Found this on the ISBE website ”

“Effective July 2015, the Electronic Direct Certification System will NOT include matches with the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) file that includes income eligible Medicaid children. Thus, a reduced number of direct certification matches for 2015-16 Annual and Monthly files is likely for most sponsors when compared to last year’s 2014-15 files. ISBE Nutrition and Wellness Programs Division staff will continue to work with USDA and HFS staff to utilize income eligible Medicaid matches in the future. If we are able to provide such matches in the future, School Food Authorities will be notified immediately.”

http://isbe.net/nutrition/htmls/dcs.htm

Again, I was told by the ISBE that this is do to a decision by the Governor. Reading further down the page the Medicaid certification was part of a project started in 2012 and continues today. States must agree to be a part of the project.I would have to guess the Rauner decided to remove Illinois from the project.

I cannot say with complete accuracy how many families this will impact, but my business office estimates about 10-15%. Not a ton of people for a district of our size but for those people it is a big deal.

Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 9:36 pm