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* It’s a credit to all the state’s many vendors that this hasn’t been a bigger problem already. How long these folks can hold out is anybody’s guess, however…
The state’s Department of Veterans’ Affairs confirmed Wednesday that some food vendors for the agency’s veterans homes have said they may have to suspend deliveries because of the state’s ongoing budget problems.
The agency said it is working to find alternative suppliers to ensure that food service is not interrupted to the four homes the state operates.
“There are vendors who either have, or may have to suspend deliveries in the future,” Veterans’ Affairs spokesman Ryan Yantis said in a prepared statement. “For those vendors, alternate solutions have been identified to ensure the homes receive needed supplies and services to continue to provide care to residents.”
Yantis said that includes finding other companies willing to supply the homes with food products.
That may not be easy, considering the somewhat remote locations of some of those homes.
* Meanwhile…
Richard Tego hasn’t coped well with the recent cutoff of services to help him deal with autism.
“He will sit and cry because he can’t go see his friends,” his mother, Veronica Morse of Carlinville, said Wednesday. “He’s going back into his shell.”
Richard, 13, an eighth-grader at Carlinville Middle School, is among more than a dozen children who were cut off from services at The Autism Program of Illinois’ Springfield center in late August because of the ongoing state budget impasse.
The regression Morse has seen is what Autism Program officials fear will happen to hundreds of children statewide as the impasse continues to cause unprecedented damage to a network of autism diagnostic and treatment services that began to be developed in 2003. […]
Diagnostic services and treatments for children with autism have stopped at nonprofit agencies in Chicago and Charleston that receive state funding through The Autism Program, Bonanno said. A program in Rockford that gets money from the program soon may run out of cash.
* Related…
* Ongoing budget impasse threatens help for the homeless, advocates say
* Homeless Youth Call On Governor
* Group: No state budget equals more trash
* Mental health police training funds get hearing
* State government’s budget impasse forces Rockford to take bigger loan for key airport project
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 11:03 am
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There are probably more of these. I have heard that the company that has the temporary contract pulled all its people out this week. It won’t be long until some of the utility companies turn out the lights…
Comment by RetiredStateEmployee Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 11:12 am
The Agency is looking to get supplied by a vendor who is cool with not getting paid. I’d say that’s an uphill climb, and a pretty pathetic business model.
Comment by Emily Miller Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 11:16 am
Regarding Bruce’s bottom line, is it cheaper to feed them if they are in IDOC custody? If prisons are “privatized” with Bruce as a major stockholder?
Comment by Jack Stephens Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 11:19 am
From my vantage point in DHS, things are even more “crumbled” than is being reported. I hope the trolls will not start wooting about exagerations or “things aren’t as bad as”, etc. People have been calling all yesterday and today about a possible delay in food stamps due to a potential Federal shutdown. They are scared out of their gourds.
Comment by Honeybear Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 11:24 am
Dear voting public,
Elections have consequences….
Terrible, awful consequences.
Comment by Dee Lay Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 11:25 am
Looks Like the turnaround agenda is having the desired effect. Crisis! Unfortunately the poorest and the most vulnaerable will pay the cost at the beginning, later on he can squeeze the middle class. That will harm business, less money to spend.
Comment by Niblets Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 11:29 am
National Republicans want to shut down the government over planned parenthood.
Illinois Republicans are cool with shutting down our safety net over collective bargaining/workers comp…two things whose benefits ensure more to the corporate class.
End result is that people are really afraid. When you don’t have food, when autistic kids regress after lack of services, when health benefits aren’t being paid, when mental health centers close, when childcare centers close…those folks and all the people who love them are not going to understand why workers compensation or collective bargaining is more important than that.
Striking similarities in a presidential election cycle. I really think the Rauner braintrust is seriously miscalculating.
Comment by sideline watccher Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 11:31 am
Dear Voters,
Our children, elderly and veterans MAY be cared for when workers accept lower wages, that getting hurt at work is their fault, and when they accept being unemployed means they are lazy.
Comment by 360 Degree TurnAround Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 11:33 am
The new contract for these vendors. “The State of Illinois promises you an IOU to be valid at some unforseen date in the future for the goods and services you provide now. You will be given interest on the money you are owed if we ever get an appropriation. For your willingness to float us the products, you will have the right to be on the list of some $6-8 billion in back due bills. Thank you, the Rauner Administration.”
Comment by Norseman Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 11:35 am
What will happen to those poor Vets in Veteran Hospitals @ Nursing Homes for Veterans if they can’t find another food vendor? Looks like Rauner wish for a good crisis is coming true.
Comment by Mama Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 11:38 am
90 days is critical for many vendors. Some as a matter of policy will withhold services, authorized product or software licensing, or products they provide. Not having a budget by the end of this month will be devastating. It’s one thing for a vendor to have one of several invoices go to court of claims, 100% of their business is another matter entirely.
Agencies continue to commit the state to payment for products and services without a budget. It’s as if there’s a fixation on the checks being cut instead of when the commitment was made. Try telling a contractor that completed work on your home you haven’t budgeted the funds. I question the legality of the state entering into contracts and requesting services when no appropriation exists. I’m not sure that the standard “subject to appropriations” clause will or should apply when the stats deliberately continued to request services with no means of payment. Things will get even more interesting if the funding source specified in the contract never materializes.
Comment by AC Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 11:39 am
It’s time for Gov. Rauner to put a stop to the devastation. There is absolutely no upside to this budget impasse and it will take years for the state to recover. Agree on a budget and then get back to work on your turn around agenda. Real human beings are being hurt by this.
Comment by Because I said so... Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 11:39 am
I predict that Rich and other reporters will be reporting on horror stories where some vendors who on good faith provided services end up financial trouble because of slow payment.
Comment by Norseman Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 11:39 am
Yes, this is a self created crisis by the current Administration. Basically if the legislature passes the Governor’s non budget agenda, some help presumably will be on the way soon. Until that time things will continue to go from bad to worse.
You will find part of the Governor’s turnaround agenda in the Campaign platform of former presidential candidate Scott Walker. He was able to get his collective bargaining busting agenda passed in Wisconsin. Nationwide there wasn’t the popular support for it that Walker hoped for. There isn’t a lot of popular support for it in Illinois either but the Governor is hoping that if he can make enough folks suffer long enough, he can force the agenda to be passed away, even without the public support. Meanwhile, with each month that passes, the amount of new money required to fix the problem increases.
Comment by The Dude Abides Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 11:41 am
Hi Rich,
Because Madigan and the legislators he controls refuse to pass the Governor’s Turnaround Agenda which financially cripples the middle class, the least among us here in Illinois, will have to experience their fair share of suffering first. However, make no mistake, the Governor will never waiver in his resolve to allow the middle class the right to be just as miserable as soon as possible.
Thanks,
ck
Comment by PublicServant Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 11:43 am
“The State of Illinois promises you an IOU to be valid when the Turnaround Agenda is passed, but Madigan and the Politicians He Controls won’t budge.” Hmm…need to work in “Phony” and “Sham” somehow.
Comment by Skeptic Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 11:43 am
In my 2nd to last sentence in previous post, I meant to say “anyway” not “away”.
Comment by The Dude Abides Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 11:43 am
Governor Rauner, Pope Francis on line 1.
Comment by Casual observer Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 11:46 am
The willingness of vendors to respond to RFPs issued by the state will be limited to those who can afford to work without payment indefinitely, and they will price accordingly. The leaders in a given segment will do business with anyone but the state of Illinois if they can help it.
Comment by AC Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 11:52 am
New state motto:
Illinois, the cold-hearted state.
Comment by cha-cha Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 11:52 am
Good Lord, that poor kid–and all the many others like him that we aren’t hearing about.
And what’s the “superstar” plan to feed the vets, going forward? Wheel them out on the street and have them beg alms, like it’s the Middle Ages? Nice “turnaround.” There are few non-banned words to adequately describe this situation and its architects.
Also–I don’t know anything about how veterans services are administered. Is there a point at which the federal VA would step in?
Comment by Crispy Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 11:53 am
Maybe the “superstars” and the Guv are counting on the “blood Moon” this Sunday to “solve” the budget impasse. Would probably still be Madigan’s fault./s
http://www.seattlepi.com/national/article/Super-blood-moon-on-Sunday-will-not-usher-in-the-6519590.php
Comment by Anon221 Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 11:54 am
crispy, that’s what I’ve been wondering. At what point does it get so bad that the feds have to step in? Can they even? Uncharted waters for sure.
Comment by Honeybear Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 11:57 am
So Bruce’s plan is to kill off the needy to get rid of unions?
I remember the smarmy tv ads with him and Di last year. Must make for interesting conversation around the dinner table at the mansion in Winnetkastan!
Comment by Jack Stephens Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 11:58 am
Delays in payment to vendors has been an issue since 2008, when the economy collapsed. I don’t disagree with the seriousness of the issue, the problems it poses, etc. — but it can’t be isolated to this specific governor. The biggest issue is a shortness of revenue, and pension obligations. It’s time to recognize that neither side will win today in the power struggle that’s going on between the Speaker and the Governor. Address revenue and constitutional pension reform, and manage to the needs of the 5th largest state in the union. It’s your job!
Comment by Lincoln Lad Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 12:00 pm
I am surprised that more vendors have not stopped providing the State of Illinois goods and services long ago. Many businesses, especially small ones, work on very thin profit margins. Many businesses can not afford to effectively finance the state even if they want to.
Comment by Hit or Miss Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 12:10 pm
Human suffering is the price governor rauner is willing to pay so that he can inflict suffering on the unions.
I will not dignify rauner’s name or title with capitalization. He’s a small man who doesn’t deserve it.
Comment by Aldyth Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 12:11 pm
Must be nice being able to sit $25,000,000 above the lowest so as not to feel the effects. I wonder if he participated in Yom Kippur services yesterday.
Comment by Union Man Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 12:12 pm
Interesting question about the Federal VA. The Fed VA pays at least one third of the per diem for all Veterans in the State homes, which come out to $103 per day from the feds. The feds have “oversight” on the state homes. If the feds come to the conclusion that the homes are not being run safely, they can deny the per diem payments.
Comment by Groundhog Day Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 12:17 pm
“Let them eat cake.”
- Tribune editorial board
November 2, 2015
Comment by Juvenal Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 12:19 pm
As Rich proposed, put the IL deciders in jail until the budget & funding is resolved. Sha!e on all of them for causing these failures for humans living in IL to endure. How far will our ’so-called’ leaders allow this to continue. It can only get worse, with greater numbers falling into needless, completely avoidable distress or worse. Go.Do.Your.Jobs!
Comment by sal-says Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 12:21 pm
FYI union brother, many may not know that Yom Kippur is the Jewish day of atonement. Thus Rauner attending would be to atone for his transgressions, not because he’s like a wealthy jew. Just wanted to clarify that. I hope he did attend services. We can always hope. I also wish he’d read the Epistle of James.
Comment by Honeybear Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 12:22 pm
=== And what’s the “superstar” plan to feed the vets, going forward? ===
Bartering prison labor for some gruel!
Comment by Norseman Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 12:24 pm
Popeye’s buddy springs to mind.
” I will gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today”.
Comment by Bemused Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 12:25 pm
== Rauner braintrust is seriously miscalculating. ==
Maybe The Governot’s ‘braintrust’ ain’t all that brainy nor trusty?
Comment by sal-says Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 12:26 pm
== It’s time to recognize that neither side will win today in the power struggle that’s going on between the Speaker and the Governor. ==
Actually, this ‘power struggle’ is far wider than a couple of individuals. It’s actually between the middle class and those in need versus the 1%’ers & oligarchy.
Comment by sal-says Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 12:36 pm
The Rauner admin said calling Goldberg a grass bowl was disrespectful because he’s a Vet. But it okay to let Veterans go hungry? I think not, that’s beyond disrespectful!
Comment by Pacman Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 12:37 pm
**Juvenal “Let them eat cake”
–Trib editorial Board”
corrected date: Nov 11th, 2015 (Veterans Day)
Comment by Groundhog Day Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 12:39 pm
It is going to take years to fix what Rauner has done.
Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 12:52 pm
The ROI on the governor’s political agenda must be a jackpot, as the cost in human distress, unpaid bills to vendors and runaway deficits is dear and getting more so every day.
It sure would be swell if the governor would share with the people the data-driven economic and fiscal analysis of how passing his agenda will pay off.
There is such an analysis, correct? There is a data-driven cost/benefit analysis that justifies this willful sabotage of core state functions and the state’s fiscal position?
No one would be so irresponsible and reckless as to engineer this crisis-of-choice based on bong-hitting, dorm-room debate club chit-chat?
Comment by Wordslinger Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 12:59 pm
Being eager to rush to the defense of Veterans, I’m patiently waiting for Trover to come to the defense of hungry Veterans in his Boss’s state run homes.
Comment by Johnnie F. Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 1:01 pm
@the q: It won’t happen.
Comment by Tournaround Agenda Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 1:02 pm
The story about the autistic 8th-grader made me go to TAP’s site to see if there was a way to give money, but I couldn’t see anywhere where they accepted donations. Any thoughts on how to donate?
Comment by Chicagonk Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 1:04 pm
@Lincoln Lad, Last week Kristina Rasmussen of the IPI mentioned the same idea you suggested, Constitutional Pension Reform. Amending the Constitution as per the pension clause won’t put much of a dent in the pension funding problem. Remember that it’s unconstitutional to pass any law impairing the obligation of contracts. What the state owes to it’s retirees must be paid. Benefits earned by current workers must be paid too.
Comment by The Dude Abides Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 1:25 pm
Groundhog: thanks for the info. I would think we’d also be entering lawsuit territory (again) as well.
And Packman, I was thinking that, too. It’s an upside-down world where it’s somehow “disrespectful” to disagree with the words and behavior of individual vets who may have overlooked the norms of civil discourse (trying to be diplomatic, here), but somehow not disrespectful at all to needlessly, willfully jeopardize the physical welfare of whole groups of vets in their disability and old age. With a hat-tip to Honeybear, I’m thinking James would have some things to say about that, too–something about words vs. actions. …
Comment by Crispy Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 2:21 pm
one DOT yard has had water turned off from lack of payment opn monday, they scrambled to get in porta potties and bottled water to wash with.
Comment by Allen D Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 2:57 pm
How are they paying for all the lawyers?
Comment by burbanite Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 3:10 pm
Surprised these aren’t federally funded through the state.
Comment by Qui Tam Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 3:31 pm
Perhaps Rauner’s friends at Dot Foods could help out. The family contributed quite a bit to his campaign. Perhaps there is some Illinois-style compassionate conservatism and be willing to wait for repayment–with interest of course.
Comment by Nearly Normal Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 3:45 pm
@Allen D 2:57-What is your opinion?
How long till they can’t get fuel for the trucks, and the State Police cars? Repair parts for the snowplows? Salt for the roads? Gas bill for heating buildings? Electric bill for traffic signals and roadway lighting? Etc., etc..?
Comment by DuPage Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 3:49 pm
I am speechless…great leadership at work…way to go Springfield…
Comment by Loop Lady Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 3:57 pm
Smaller vendors are in real trouble, and many will stop supplying the state.
Big, diversified companies, will last a long time in expectation of future business. Utilities will be the last to go, if ever, because of the years of sweet deals the state government has given them.
Comment by walker Thursday, Sep 24, 15 @ 4:19 pm