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* WQAD TV…
There’s only two weeks left of the Illinois legislative session and there’s still no budget.
A center helping disabled resident says if a budget isn’t passed soon it will have to close its doors. […]
“We can`t foot the bill for the state of Illinois,” said [Northwestern Illinois Center for Independent Living] Executive Director Michele Miller.
The center helps people with disabilities live on their own, like Kay Bryant. […]
With no state budget for the last two years, NICIL has had to come up with ways to save money, from laying off staff to even temporarily closing.
“We`re burnt out all of us are covering three and four jobs just to be able to satisfy the customers,” said Miller.
If a budget isn’t passed soon, the center which serves five counties will need to lay off its remaining staff by July 1st. That would leave it’s 300 clients on their own.
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, May 19, 17 @ 11:49 am
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Previous Post: HB2774/SB1502 & HB3449 Will Hurt Illinois Consumers and Businesses
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I bet if you survey a good sampling of taxpayers in Illinois, the overwhelming majority want to help the developmentally disabled and others in need.
Ask them if they want to continue to pay for the kind of gold plated public employee pensions that compound at 3% a year and they would say no.
You can do one or the other, but not both.
Comment by In A Minute Friday, May 19, 17 @ 11:54 am
Bruce Rauner would tell those 300 displaced clients to “hang in there”. We have to be competitive first, then we can be compassionate”.
Comment by Ole' Nelson Friday, May 19, 17 @ 11:54 am
===You can do one or the other, but not both.===
Why not?
Comment by 47th Ward Friday, May 19, 17 @ 11:55 am
“You can do one or the other, but not both.” So you’re saying that since the ISSC has said one has to be done, there’s no possible way to help the developmentally disabled. I beg to differ.
Comment by Skeptic Friday, May 19, 17 @ 11:58 am
Bruce, drop the “In A Minute” handle, we know it’s you. This is your “wedge”, your “crisis”, your “leverage”, and people are hurting, people are dying, as a result of your actions.
Comment by Reality Check Friday, May 19, 17 @ 12:00 pm
===You can do one or the other, but not both.===
Yes we can and we should.
We have a moral obligation to care for our neediest citizens.
And the courts have ALREADY ESTABLISHED we WILL pay for accrued pensions.
Then there’s Bruce Rauner.
He doesn’t want to do either.
Comment by Biscuit Head Friday, May 19, 17 @ 12:00 pm
Not having a budget is not in the control of the state of Illinois workers. D
Comment by say what Friday, May 19, 17 @ 12:03 pm
==gold plated public employee pensions that compound at 3% a year==
Good to know you think my $1100 per month I will get if I work for 20 years is gold plated. And since it’s my understanding I’m paying extra into my pension for that extra $33 per month I’ll get for the 3%, it’s not like it’s being handed to me. I paid my money into the plan regardless of whether the state paid their share or spent the money to pretend they didn’t need a tax hike.
Comment by HangingOn Friday, May 19, 17 @ 12:06 pm
I know Michele Miller. She is dedicated to helping individuals with disabilities lead better lives.
As with “HangingOn,” I will receive a small pension payment but will need to work part time in retirement. Nothing “gold plated” about that.
Comment by illinoised Friday, May 19, 17 @ 12:16 pm
===You can do one or the other, but not both.===
Yes we can and we should.
@Biscuit Head: Bravo.
Before Mr. Rauner urged the legislature to leave in place the partial sunsetting of Governor Quinn’s 2% tax increase, social service providers were being paid, the normal cost of pensions was being paid, the pension ramp payment was being paid and there was still money left over to steadily pay down the bill backlog. It is a matter of choice, involving about 1.25% in income tax or other tax revenue, as to whether we as a civilized state do “both” or whether we stay stuck on a cynical tradeoff between gutting state social services or coercing state employees to accept less than their already earned and vested pension benefits.
Comment by Anonymous Friday, May 19, 17 @ 12:17 pm
“Why not?”
Because IL has the highest state and local tax burden in the nation right now.
Comment by Anonymous Friday, May 19, 17 @ 12:18 pm
The greeting signs on our interstates entering Illinois should be changed to say “abandon hope all ye who enter here,” next to Gov. Rauner’s photo.
Comment by Motambe Friday, May 19, 17 @ 12:26 pm
===IL has the highest state and local tax burden in the nation right now.===
You realize Governor Rauner said that he will sign a tax hike, right?
Comment by 47th Ward Friday, May 19, 17 @ 12:29 pm
“That would leave it’s 300 clients on their own.”
ILGA, both sides, this is on you if you cannot get your act together and realize that your constituents are not leverage. For people like Bill Brady and Chapin Rose who keep saying that they need more time, that “we’re not there yet” STOP IT. If Rauner Bucks, or Madigan Bucks for that matter, are more important to you that doing what needs to be done to get a budget, get vendors paid, get their duties to their constituents DONE, then I really, really hope the next election is payback on your Party’s “loan” to you. Because you have sure forgotten about any interests the people you chose to serve when you took the oath of office.
Comment by Anon221 Friday, May 19, 17 @ 12:30 pm
Northwestern Illinois Center for Independent Living, Rauner appreciates your sacrifice for his alleged reforms that will realize minor ROI.
Comment by Norseman Friday, May 19, 17 @ 12:37 pm
Its ironic that social service agencies are being required to do significantly more budget reporting because of GATA…. while at the same time the state has no budget. Maybe its just a way to squeeze out more money.
Comment by Ted Friday, May 19, 17 @ 12:54 pm
“You know what? Ha ha ha.” - Bruce Rauner
Comment by Winnin' Friday, May 19, 17 @ 1:14 pm
A CIL IS …
A non-residential, community-based, cross-disability, non-profit organization, designed and staffed by persons with disabilities. CILs are driven by the philosophy that all people with disabilities have the right and the responsibility to make choices to control the direction of their lives and participate fully and equally in their communities.
Centers for Independent Living Provide:
•Peer Support
•Information and Referral
•Individual and Systems Advocacy
•Independent Living Skills Training
•Transition Support
Illinois is home to:
•22 Centers for Independent Living (CILs)
•17 satellite CIL offices
This is just the first of these centers to be squeezed to death. They are state-wide and serve most if not all counties in the state. The embarrassment continues…
Comment by Cubs in '16 Friday, May 19, 17 @ 1:20 pm
Whoops. Anonymous @ 12:17 was me.
Comment by 37B Friday, May 19, 17 @ 1:28 pm
===IL has the highest state and local tax burden in the nation right now.===
Spout alternative facts much? Source?
One recent survey ranks IL as 9th highest: https://wallethub.com/edu/states-with-highest-lowest-tax-burden/20494/#methodology
Since IL per capita income is near the national median, why can’t we make ends meet with the 9th highest tax burden? Care to guess?
Comment by X-prof Friday, May 19, 17 @ 1:30 pm
==Good to know you think my $1100 per month I will get if I work for 20 years is gold plated.==
Exactly how large a pension should be offered for less than half a career?
Comment by City Zen Friday, May 19, 17 @ 2:12 pm
== less than half a career==
Only reason I put it at 20 is that’s when I’ll be of age. I worked 19 years in the private sector. If I had 40 years left in me I’d possibly top $1250 a month. So, what do you think I should get for 20 years work after 19 in private sector?
Comment by HangingOn Friday, May 19, 17 @ 2:20 pm
Hmpf. City Zen. You are aware that the amount of a retirement annuity is also based upon the number of years actually worked? In SERS, it is a linear relationship. All other factors the same, a 40 year annuitant will get twice the monthly payment of a 20 year annuitant.
Comment by Hieronymus Friday, May 19, 17 @ 3:47 pm
If Northwestern Illinois Center for Independent Living only had a “volunteer lobbyist” as good as the one us taxpayers have.
Comment by don the legend Friday, May 19, 17 @ 4:01 pm