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* Monsignor Michael Boland, the President of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago, has been keeping a pretty low profile during the long impasse. But he’s starting to speak out and talked to Mark Brown…
Boland admits he has been hesitant before now to speak out, in part not wanting to scare the people who rely on Catholic Charities for help, such as the 15,000 seniors who participate in a program that provides them various services in their homes to help them avoid going into a nursing home.
One in three Chicago residents receive some service from Catholic Charities over the course of a year, Boland said. Surprising to me, some 75 percent of its $200 million annual budget comes from government funding.
If Catholic Charities were to close 20 percent of its programs, that would hurt 200,000 people, Boland said.
“Where would they go? For me, I’m trying to hold the line … because I don’t think these people should be pawns of government.”
Boland noted that some are starting to say there will be no resolution to this crisis until after the general election in November.
“I don’t know what will be left after the general election as far as services,” he warned.
There’s no way that Catholic Charities, or any other group, can raise private funds to make up for the continuing non-payment of their state service contracts.
What’s happening here is the absolute shredding of the state’s safety net. And for what? To savage the already waning power of unions.
I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, the governor needs to find another way to expand the economy before this state implodes. And the Democrats absolutely need to help him find that alternate path…
“The two sides are so entrenched, how are they going to walk it back?” said Chris Mooney, director of the Institute of Government and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois. “They are too far gone, somehow they’ve got to find a way both can declare victory and go home.”
Yep.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 8:39 am
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Yes, ” the governor needs to find another way to expand the economy before this state implodes.”
“One in three Chicago residents receive some service from Catholic Charities over the course of a year” this so very sad and is a damning societal indictment.
Comment by Niblets Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 8:52 am
Maybe anyone who is deluded enough to say, “We’re winning,” could just say instead, “We’ve won.” Then he could sign the new budget bills and approve the necessary new revenue ….
Then they other side could declare victory, too.
Comment by Diogenes in DuPage Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 8:54 am
The purposeful dismantling of the Social Service Saftey Net by the governor…
… purposeful…
…should cause to rally even Republicans to stand up and say “enough”. If the Illinois GOP wants to enable Bruce Rauner in this by outright refusing to educate Bruce Rauner that he lacks the legislative votes, but Rauner can formulate math to get to needed majorities for governing if he refuses to hurt the less fortunate, that is the call to the GOP GA members. Being utterly controlled by the Executive as enabled Rauner to choose a path of a…
… Social Agenda…
… that includes dismantling GOP Social Servive programs that have had bipartisan support for years.
I can NOT imagine a voter effected by LSSI, by Catholic Charities… by any agency being shredded by Bruce Rauner… and those voters seeing the ILGOP as a viable option, how is that even remotely possible?
When will the GOP Members I know and respect for their rational thoughts finally become the Gorillas of Pate and stand up? Are y’all just too cowardly? Are y’all too tired to fight for the needy? Are y’all just too happy to be controlled?
Are the GOP GA so con passionless that Rauner’s own cold heart is warmly embraced by the best of you?
Autonomous Caucuses would never have let GOP social service programs be dismantled with nary a whisper, or hoot, because autonomous caucuses are partners, and subsidiaries.
Remember, these Rauner choices, the “Social Agenda of Destruction” will be placed at the Raunerites’ feet, because Republicans, thoughtful Republicans that use to sit in those GA seats seem to have vanished, like these programs are vanishing, possibly never to return again.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 8:57 am
I believe the Gov wants to privatize the service providers. Corporations rather than nonprofits can provide the same benefits more cost effectively in Rauner’s world. I don’t believe it for second since much of the labor & facilities are donated by LSSI and CC without quantification.
Comment by burbanite Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 9:00 am
Rauner, apparently, is proud of his persistence. So unless something very big — almost epically awful — happens, Rauner will continue to persist. The agenda will stand, I suspect.
And he’ll continue to spout platitudes like: “It’s awful we don’t have a budget” or “I’m really mad we don’t have a budget” or “I find it immoral we don’t have a budget” or “Give me a education bill with no funny business. Nothing extra.”
Besides, why should Madigan give in? If he gives in, Rauner will persist with this and more next year. And the year after. Seems like Rauner miscalculated, though. By dropping the entire bag of birdseed on the ground at once — and not giving it out a little bit of a time — he’s forced the dems to look at it and say, “Okay, I see. That’s what it is. Well, we don’t want any of it.”
Comment by Frenchie Mendoza Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 9:01 am
It is sad that we need these programs in the first place. It is horrible that they are being willfully destroyed.
The first may be either indifference or the fault of the capitalist system, but it was not necessarily planned. The second is a deliberate choice between good and evil …
Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 9:07 am
Just like there is “no way” a little blogger can completely up-end the Illinois political news market and revolutionize how the statehouse is covered while making lots of money at the same time. Have a little faith in the ingenuity and creativity that comes from challenging the status quo.
Comment by Thanks Be Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 9:08 am
Expected them to come out right after LSSI.
Best wishes to them and al those who give their talents and time freely in service.
Comment by walker Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 9:11 am
I’m not sure what ‘big’ would look like to move this Governor. I’m not sure a ‘Flint’ style crisis would do it. I’m pretty sure that shredding the safety net is precisely what he’s after because that constitutes a ‘drain’ on the system (in his eyes). It’s not that he doesn’t understand what he’s doing, he’s too smart for that. It’s that he knows exactly what he’s doing and is doing it and we (the public) have been too slow to understand and react.
Comment by Not quite a majority Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 9:11 am
No one is giving in. In his opinion, Rauner is “winning.” He’s “persistent.” “He knows how to run this organization.”
Those are not the words of a man about to relent and do what is necessary for the people of Illinois. It is better that those in need today suffer or perish so that, years from now, they might have a new minimum wage job to go to.
As has been rightly pointed out, this doesn’t end until the General Assembly GOP split from the Raunerite caucus.
Comment by illini97 Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 9:12 am
==When will the GOP Members I know and respect for their rational thoughts finally become the Gorillas of Pate and stand up? Are y’all just too cowardly? Are y’all too tired to fight for the needy? Are y’all just too happy to be controlled?== Just look at what happened when Sam McCann stiffened his spine for just one moment and cast a vote in the interests of his district instead of the per Governor’s orders. Until Governor Rauner learns the 80-20 rule, expect more of the same. Sigh.
Comment by SAP Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 9:13 am
Willy nails it once again!
Comment by illini Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 9:13 am
Pride go-with before the fall.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 9:17 am
== What’s happening here is the absolute shredding of the state’s safety net.==
More ominously, what is really breaking down is the state’s checks-and-balances system.
I’m actually more concerned with that. I understand the position of the big three, but why everyone else in Springfield stands around idly and allows the destruction of the state is absolutely beyond me.
I thought situations like this is *why* we have a constitution….
Comment by Anon Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 9:18 am
If a person took the approach that the governor actually would like to tear The Whole Thing down, and start from bottom up,
such a thought is not so hyperbolic as time goes on.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 9:27 am
“Corporations rather than nonprofits can provide the same benefits more cost effectively in Rauner’s world.”
I wonder what color the sky is in Rauner’s world.
Comment by Nick Name Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 9:29 am
Rauner wants our state to collapse. He has a plan to rebuild it “better”. Privatizing government services means having Illinoisans paying taxes to corporations, not to governments. Rauner is promising that paying taxes to corporations will mean less taxes. It is all about the bottom line for him.
Rauner doesn’t depend upon state services and he doesn’t believe that those who do should have any rights to dictate, regardless of citizenship. As long as there is some kind of means to help the poor in Illinois, Rauner doesn’t care how well it is done. As long as it is cheap.
Rauner’s supporters don’t care either. They don’t care that currently, many poor and elderly receive care from local religious organizations. They have divorced themselves from any ethical or spiritual concerns and have become consumed by selfishness. They want a seat on the lifeboat, and have no problem judging their neighbors as being unworthy of the same.
Rauner hates governments. He sees them as expensive relics supported by honest hard working people. He wants to serve taxpayers by stripping government and selling off what it does to the highest bidders.
Bruce Rauner is a junkman cutting up emergency response equipment to sell off the parts for a profit, then turning around and telling citizens who need these services they have enhanced freedom to lose everything they have.
Bruce Rauner: worst governor ever.
Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 9:36 am
Keep drivin’ that wedge. Democrats will break from unions any month now.
Comment by Grandson of Man Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 9:40 am
Rauner’s losing, he knows it. But he doesn’t know how to get out of this mess without owning all of it. So it’s back to the “throw another bad idea at the wall and hope it sticks” strategy—the proof is/will be in his budget address today.
The Dems aren’t going to bail Rauner out because they know they’ve got him dead to rights. They’re going to ask for full, unconditional surrender. He’s not going to give it.
Rauner has two options from this vantage point:
1) Strike a deal and rip a page from Rahm’s book: even though you lost, try and make it look like you won, maybe you’ll fool a few people.
2) shut down the state and hope to smoke out the Dems. It’s unlikely to work and it could (will?) destroy the state, but it’s death by 1,000 paper cuts right now away.
Comment by From the 'Dale to HP Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 9:42 am
I disagree with Mooney. Saving face would be easy–both sides agree to ask Jim Thompson to act as an arbitrator.
The issue is more fundamental, neither side wants to give enough to make a deal possible. I write that without taking any position on whether one or both sides is being “unreasonable,” because that is in the eye of the beholder. But I don’t see where there is a will to meet in the middle, not yet.
Comment by Harry Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 9:43 am
According to the Google a nursing home can make up to $500 per resident per DAY.
Monsignor said they keep up to 15,000 seniors out of nursing homes.
They are keeping 7.5 mil per day out of the vultures hands. Spending 60 mil for the big seat looks like a pretty good investment.
Comment by Trolling Troll Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 9:48 am
The $500 per day was profit BTW
Comment by Trolling Troll Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 9:50 am
Rich has hit on a question I have been asking myself for some time.
Why is Rauner willing to take the State over the cliff on an issue that is already moving in the direction he wants.
Organized labor has been in decline for decades. Some of that decline is due to the efforts of those like Bruce but a lot of it is by shooting themselves in the foot. Leadership has managed to disenfranchise the membership with resulting apathy.
OW has made the case that those with social services and organized labor had best make a statement as early as march. If not then Governor Rauner is just making a lot of folks suffer to hasten the inevitable.
The desire to do this on his watch brings into question his end game.
Comment by Bemused Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 9:51 am
=== I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again ===
I’ve said this before and I’ll say this again: the problem isn’t just that Rauner’s Turnaround Agenda is completely unrealistic, the problem is that Rauner honestly does not want a tax hike, which is why he has inserted his poison ;ills into every provision that would get us closer to a budget deal, and it is why he has only offered up 16 House votes for a tax hike even if he got every single item in his Turnaround Agenda, insisting Madigan come up with 44 Democratic votes.
Democrats cannot help Rauner find a path to mutual victory because Rauner doesn’t want to pass a tax hike, its that simple, and it makes perfect sense. The whole reason he is going after unions, trial lawyers, the map, and incumbency is to try to secure a GOP majority in the legislature to keep taxes low.
Comment by Juvenal Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 9:51 am
Actions speak louder than words.
Every GOP legislator voted against any appropriation for social services.
The governor vetoed all appropriations for social services, without any effort to mitigate the damage with his line-item or reduction vetoes.
In the last eight months, all GOP legislators, Rep. Dunkin and the governor have effectively blocked all efforts to restore any social services funding.
The monster FY16 GRF deficit created by consent decrees and continuing appropriations stemming from the lack of a budget will make it impossible for social service agencies to be made whole on the money they are owed by the state.
Sen. Radogno told Bernie there “needed to be a shakeout” in social services.
DHS and COO Lingle sent letters to social services providers whose state contracts are not being honored outlining the coming brave new world of mergers and acquisitions.
Where’s the mystery? This is not collateral damage. This is the plan, in action.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 9:54 am
If you have a chance to listen to the human services leadership in the Rauner administration there is is a not-so-subtle message that the people providing direct human services are losers in low paying jobs, and many of the people who receive the services are there because of their own decisions and they don’t deserve much either. It was jaw dropping until it became a routine message.
Comment by 100 miles west Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 9:55 am
People in the State of Illinois need to see the “scorecard”. When you look at the voting records online at www.ilga.gov, there is no R or D behind the name. As March nears, it would be a great mailer (or newspaper- take some pages from the latest mailers showing up in some districts mailboxes of new “community newspapers”), and list the bills, the votes, and the R’s and D’s. Let Radogno and Durkin do some more explaining why the shakin’ and hangin’ is needed. Right now, they are able to hide behind the rhetoric.
Comment by Anon221 Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 10:06 am
This governor will never compromise or back down on union busting and privatization. The only way out of this impasse is for the Dems to put out a realistic balanced budget proposal on their own, complete with tax hikes for much-needed new revenue.
To date, the Dem leadership has been unwilling to do this, presumably based on the conventional wisdom that “owning” a tax increase is political suicide. But this might be obsolete thinking. Consider Sanders’ unexpected popularity and Clinton’s recent tacks to cover some of his proposals. These developments suggest that reforms that depend on tax increases can be political aces if they make the revenue system less regressive. Madigan and Cullerton should consider catching this new wave, and in the process, take the reins as Rauner continues his refusal to govern. If done properly, enough GOP GA members might come forward to support an override of the governor’s inevitable veto.
Comment by X-prof Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 10:11 am
>Where’s the mystery? This is not collateral damage. This is the plan, in action.
Where is this going out as a consistent message from Democrats? I’m not sure who “balance approach with revenue and cuts” is reaching. If I’m going to finally jump on the “blame Madigan” bandwagon, I’ll do it for not seeing him doing press conferences with human service providers.
Comment by Earnest Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 10:16 am
===If I’m going to finally jump on the “blame Madigan” bandwagon, I’ll do it for not seeing him doing press conferences with human service providers.===
Madigan has done at least one Presser like that, but I would suggest you use the search key on your own and find others, as the Dems have numerous times stood with social service providers, at a podium.
Do the search, you may be surprised.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 10:20 am
Trolling Troll, by definition nonprofits don’t make a “profit” so one would assume that CC provides the services at a lower cost allowing more to be served for less.
Comment by burbanite Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 10:23 am
This is not about improving things in the long run or even survival of the fittest. It is strictly about breaking the social service systems so Rauner’s buddies can profit from picking up the pieces while the taxpayers end up sending the coming tax hike revenues straight to the pockets of the 1.4%.
Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 10:31 am
Maybe catholic charities would be interested in a “strategic merger”? /s
Comment by Langhorne Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 10:57 am
I love Msgr. Mike. No one does more with less than his crew. He might be a voice that resonates here. Hoping and praying so.
Comment by A guy Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 10:58 am
I had an elderly woman in my interview booth yesterday ask me if we had vouchers for furniture. She needed a couch and bed. Turns out her section 8 apartment was so infested that they made her get rid of her bed and couch. She was sleeping on the floor. Sure glad we are “winning” and that the private social service agencies where she might have gotten a used bed or couch are being “shaken out”.
Comment by Honeybear Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 11:05 am
- A Guy -
You should be pleased.
Rauner is shakin’ and bringin’… and hurtin’ and dismantlin’…
Rauner is right on track, Rauner’s winnin’, just ask him.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 11:06 am
Cheaper to house them in prisons. Ask Bruce.
But wait arent Prison Workers in Unions with Free Government Entitlements?
Comment by Jack Stephens Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 11:12 am
==more with less==
I don’t think “more with less” fits anymore. I find “more with nothing” a better fit.
Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 11:15 am
burbanite-
I agree 100%. My point was what RNUG said. I was just curious how much money was at stake. The amount was alarming.
Comment by Trolling Troll Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 11:25 am
WUIS is having a pre-budget program online until noon. Worth a listen. They are answering emails/calls, and have special guests in from economics and social services, among others.
http://wuis.org
Comment by Anon221 Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 11:35 am
“I disagree with Mooney. Saving face would be easy–both sides agree to ask Jim Thompson to act as an arbitrator.”
Rauner hasn’t exactly been keen on the idea of arbitration. Just ask the sponsors of SB1229 and HB580. He doesn’t like power being taken out of his hands.
Comment by Cubs in '16 Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 11:35 am
@Trolling Troll, the average daily nursing home rate in Illinois is around $140. Your $7.5M daily number equates to about $2.7B, which is nearly double the entire appropriation for nursing homes in this state. Of that entire appropriation, the state is on the hook for approximately a quarter of it, as nursing homes generate a chunk of their funding through self taxation, some is generated through resident income being applied to costs, and the feds obviously pay their 50%.
As far as that claimed $500 daily rate… NO state in the nation pays anywhere near that as an average rate. You will see daily rates that high for very highly medically acute populations which make up a very small percentage of residents - ventilator care residents, TBI, etc. In Illinois the nursing home vent rate is going to be approx $700, which seems high until you compare it to the approx $1500+ the state will pay a hospital for identical care, but with less regulatory oversight.
Your chosen name is very appropriate.
Comment by anon12345 Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 11:59 am
–I love Msgr. Mike. No one does more with less than his crew. He might be a voice that resonates here. Hoping and praying so.–
After you’re done hoping and praying, you might try resonating on the legislators and governor you support who’ve acted to not honor Catholic Charities’ contracts with the state over the last eight months.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 12:15 pm
Seems like Catholic Charities ought to be focusing on limiting their unnecessary expenses. I would think that would include their hiring of expensive law firms to oppose medical marijuana clinics for unknown reasons. A political stance which has caused several large donors to cease donations to their organization.
Comment by Al Swearengen Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 12:42 pm
===…you might try resonating on the legislators and governor you support…===
Have been doing so with all mentioned and those I don’t support to the same end. Msgr. Mike isn’t your average priest. He could likely be a more resonant voice. How ’bout you hope for that too.
Comment by A guy Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 2:14 pm
–Have been doing so with all mentioned and those I don’t support to the same end.–
There are those who voted for the approp. to honor the CC contracts, and there are those who did not.
I wouldn’t worry too much about those that did.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 2:18 pm
I’ll share with Msgr. Mike how simple it is based on your counsel. He’ll appreciate the added knowledge.
Comment by A guy Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 2:37 pm
Oh, - A Guy -
Just tell the Monsignor to “Hang in there” and talk about all that work you did, precinct after precinct for Rauner.
That would be fun…
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 2:40 pm
Guy, the only complication I see is how you handle the contradiction of claiming to support Catholic Charities while supporting the actions of the governor and legislators who have blocked appropriations to honor their state contracts.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 2:57 pm
See Sling, it is complicated.
Comment by A guy Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 4:19 pm
–See Sling, it is complicated.–
LOL, keep telling yourself that.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 4:56 pm
Anon12345
I do enjoy my handle. Thank you.
I just quoted a break down from a “news” agency. It was from Indiana so I assumed it was correct. I thought it was ok to just spew out information whether it was correct or not. Works for the executive branch.
Must’ve struck a cord though.
Comment by Trolling Troll Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 6:13 pm