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A budget hostage pleas for help

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* From an e-mail…

Hello Rich,

I am writing to update you on the effect of the budget impasse on providers of services through contracts with the Department on Aging. Part of our money is being paid out by court order when we make hardship requests for payment. But none of the FY 2017 money to reimburse us for services we’ve already provided, under contract, that isn’t court ordered is even being sent to the Comptroller, despite the stopgap budget. I’ve heard from several providers, today alone, that they cannot make ends meet. Two have told me TODAY alone, that their boards are threatening closure because they have exhausted their reserve funds and can’t see how to make payroll in January. I hear from agencies every day now, asking for help to make payroll. If you could see fit to shine a light on this very real problem, I’d appreciate it.

I’m forwarding a video from the Responsible Budget Coalition about the impasse’s effect on the Senior Services Plus Meals on Wheels program in Alton.

Cindy Cunningham
President, Illinois Adult Day Services Association

* Here’s the video…

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Dec 15, 16 @ 4:29 pm

Comments

I wish I could tell people it’s going to be okay. It’s not. The only hope I see is if individuals focus on helping a agency or cause. I chose one and gave as much as I could. I think folks should give local maybe this year instead of larger national causes. That’s all I got. That’s so pathetic. I’m so so sorry this is happening to you.

Comment by Honeybear Thursday, Dec 15, 16 @ 4:43 pm
I hear the same from the Home care provider network daily. this has to stop and soon before there won’t be any services available to the seniors in this state and they suffer irreparable harm.

Comment by Thieman Thursday, Dec 15, 16 @ 4:45 pm
The problem with this is we act like the Rauner administration and his supporters in the state legislature don’t REALLY want to hurt seniors or the poor or Medicaid recipients or public transit riders.. it’s just a side effect of thier principled stand. I would suggest the side effects ARE their stand, albeit hastily and inconsistently disguised.

Comment by Pangloss Thursday, Dec 15, 16 @ 4:55 pm
I am embarrassed to live in a state where the Governor thinks term limits and RTW are more important than starving people. This is so heartbreaking. Meals on Wheels saved my mother in laws life, not only did they provide a balanced meal they found her after she had fallen.

Comment by Cable Line Beer Gardener Thursday, Dec 15, 16 @ 5:14 pm
Wedges speak up. Remember you are the weapon, not the collateral damage. You did not choose to be a weapon, but that is what hostages are.

Let’s be clear. Rauner chose to make senior citizens into a weapon, denying them their very humanity, treating them as wedges and not as people. So heartless and cruel.

Comment by Pawn Thursday, Dec 15, 16 @ 5:18 pm
I spoke with a respected former reporter at Tronc, who was appalled that the state’s (former) leading paper had not covered the damage caused to the hostages on a continuous, front-page basis.

Comment by Keyrock Thursday, Dec 15, 16 @ 5:22 pm
Cindy, I can repeat the famous quote about feeling your pain, however that would ring hollow to you and others who are victims of the Rauner impasse. The needs of the people you serve are being held hostage so the governor can destroy unions. Rauner doesn’t care about your problems. They’re subservient to his goal. Spread the word to those you serve and to family and friends that Rauner’s agenda is hurting, not helping Illinois. Whatever benefits his so-called reforms would bring are overwhelmed by the debt he’s run up and damage to the state’s social services network and public higher education system.

Comment by Norseman Thursday, Dec 15, 16 @ 5:23 pm
Exactly what Pangloss said…use “squeeze the beast” or any of the many previous Rauner sayings (dropped g’s or not) and it’s summed up perfectly. This is BY DESIGN.
“…don’t REALLY want to hurt seniors or the poor…”
It’s was easier for me to understand when I accepted that Rauner is a numbers being, and he sees those, not as people, but as an entity drain on the $$ system. Think Venture Capitalist! Sad State.

Comment by ExCeeThaMessWorker Thursday, Dec 15, 16 @ 5:25 pm
This destruction is deliberate and intentional. That is what our leader at the highest position in the state is doing to some of the people he was elected to represent. While running for office Rauner did not announce is intention to do this to our state. Talk about buyer’s remorse. Even the most hard and cold people couldn’t wish the ill will…..could they?

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Dec 15, 16 @ 5:28 pm
D they not understand that term limits and a property tax freeze are more important than their services? /s

Comment by Xavier Woods Thursday, Dec 15, 16 @ 6:26 pm
And thus, employment increases, Right? Isn’t that what Government. Rauner keeps telling us if we accept his 44 turn-around agenda…. Or is now 2….or maybe 3. Two years of Gov. Rauner and how many jobs have we gained (or loss)?

Our governor has two years left,else the continued decline of jobs will sink him.

Comment by Rufus Thursday, Dec 15, 16 @ 7:01 pm
This is criminal. I’m praying for some miracle to halt this willful destruction.

Comment by Crispy Thursday, Dec 15, 16 @ 8:31 pm
Rauner is going to be quite surprised when he gets to the Pearly gates. His enablers in the legislature will be too.

Comment by Chucktownian Thursday, Dec 15, 16 @ 9:29 pm
Thanks for posting this Rich. This is the fourth installment of a series; I watched them all, and each episode is very well done.

More people need to see these. Unfortunately, at least on YouTube, this post accounts for 12 of 17 views of the latest episode. For the four episodes altogether, there have only been just over 2k views since the first episode was posted on Nov. 21.

I hope there are many more views to come. Spread the word.

Comment by X-prof Thursday, Dec 15, 16 @ 9:34 pm
Rauner sees adult day services as a “wedge issue”. “Hang in there”.

Comment by jade me not Friday, Dec 16, 16 @ 8:14 am
My prediction: They can kiss what they are owed goodbye.

My advice: Prepare for closure because that’s inevitable. Then sue for monies owed.

Comment by Politix Friday, Dec 16, 16 @ 8:56 am
Nearly six months into the fiscal year, and the Superstars haven’t managed to get any billing for FY17 contracted services over to the comptroller?

Did someone lose the Superstar pencil? Are they just incredibly incompetent? I don’t think so.

This is squeeze the beast, the plan in action; no pay, slow pay, until you put them out of business.

Getting to the comptroller just gets you in line to get paid, which could take months due to the record-breaking explosion of unpaid bills.

They’ll be out of business by then, showing the true value of entering into a contract with the Rauner administration.

Gov. Vampire Capitalist, bringing his business “ethics” to government.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Dec 16, 16 @ 9:11 am