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Deja vu all over again for rape crisis centers

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Illinois

* From August of 2017, shortly after the end of the two-year Illinois government impasse…

Polly Poskin, executive director of Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault (ICASA), said she’s “cautiously optimistic” about receiving funding for the next fiscal year.

“Having experienced this, one would always then have that memory — that anything can go wrong, will go wrong,” Poskin said. “I’m confident that our elected officials never want to put our state through that again. I’m going to operate on the premise that lessons were learned and difficult decisions had to be made.”

Currently, 29 rape crisis centers fall under ICASA’s support. Agencies, including ICASA, were forced to take out credit or use their reserves to keep the bare minimum of services available, she said.

Since ICASA owns its building, they used it for credit in fiscal year 2016 and borrowed nearly $1.5 million to distribute to the centers since most don’t own property, she said. That came with an interest of $700,000.

* Today…

Illinois’ crisis centers for sexual violence survivors are starting to feel the effects of the partial government shutdown—now in its fourth week. Funding for services will soon stop coming in.

The Justice Department has given organizations until January 18, when it will stop processing funding requests. […]

Carrie Ward, executive director of the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault — a network of 30 rape crisis centers across the state — said the group hopes to minimize the impact. The centers mobilized to get their refund requests processed by the deadline. Now, Ward said, all they can do is wait for a resolution to the shutdown and try to keep the centers open.

“But there’s only so much money available, and because these dollars are so specifically for counselors and advocates, my greatest concern would be that eventually there would have to be fewer counselors and advocates that are providing the services,” she said.

Ward said federal money makes up about 60 percent of the organization’s overall funding, which also includes some state dollars. She said victims should know services are still available 24/7 and efforts will focus on keeping centers open.

Ugh. Just… ugh.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 10:58 am

Comments

The shutdown can serve many purposes.

Comment by lost in the weeds Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 11:13 am
This is another example where the Dems are wrong about winning the battle of the shutdown. Trump’s GOP is getting what they want: damage to charitable/support organizations like this example; harm to federal public employees; damage to public lands; and undermining of research and evidenced-based federal agency activities.

Comment by Deadbeat Conservative Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 11:18 am
Economic hostage taking
is
Malum in se
“Evil Itself”
When I got the privilege to study Just War theory under Jean Bethke Elshtain at Univ. of Chicago Divinity school during seminary, she spent a whole lecture on Malum in se.
It’s a category of prohibited “means of war”
Malum in se
are being used in the political arena now.
(”War is politics by other means” Clausewitz)
Some Malum in se are
Using uncontrollable weapons: Gas, nuclear
Rauner and Trump: Economic hostage taking
Making one side fight itself: gladiators
Rauners “wedge” and anti union and the vilification of public servants
Use of Perfidy: well….I’ve said enough
Targeting of Innocents: The “one of our own” we just helped and her blessed daughter
and
Rape Crisis centers
We need to understand,update and maintain
compliance with rules of
Just Politics
We must fight
With everything
Real Politik
“The strong will do as they will, and the weak will suffer what they must.”

Comment by Honeybear Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 11:19 am
But pay raises for everyone!

Comment by Flat Bed Ford Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 11:32 am
The few remaining Illinois Republican Congressmen need to use Rainer as a cautionary tale to their colleagues. Trump may wreck the national party the same way Rainer damaged the Illinois party. Shutdown is similar to no budget, but without the court orders that limited the damage.

Comment by Last Bull Moose Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 11:38 am
The U.S. Senate switchboard no. is (202) 224-3121. Ask for Mitch.

Comment by Nick Name Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 11:41 am
===But pay raises for everyone!===

Trump gave pay raises to senior White House staff. But he signed an executive order cancelling contractual pay raises for federal employees.

Comment by Nick Name Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 11:45 am
….but theres only so much money available. Somebody better pass this secret on to the governors mansion. The last guy apparently get the heads up.

Comment by Blue Dog Dem Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 11:45 am
==But pay raises for everyone!==

Don’t you mean contractually approved monies that were proven to be illegally withheld by the Gov.?

Comment by Jocko Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 11:49 am
===wrong about winning the battle of the shutdown===

If they give in on this, he’ll just do it again. That’s the biggest lesson learned from the Illinois impasse. Rauner didn’t dare try it again after he lost.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 12:06 pm
Can someone explain why Republicans want to damage to charitable/support organizations like this example; harm to federal public employees; damage to public lands; and undermining of research and evidenced-based federal agency activities?

Comment by Cheryl44 Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 12:09 pm
Trump’s GOP may be getting what they want, but the base is in the minority in the country, and the battle is for independents. Just as in Illinois, the party may secure their base and alienate everyone else.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 12:10 pm
=But pay raises for everyone!=

So you are telling me you do not understand the difference between state and federal.

Good to know. Maybe use the Google.

Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 12:10 pm
Can someone explain why Democrats……..there. Fixed it for you. BTW. The whole darn thing is absolutely juvenile.

Comment by Blue Dog Dem Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 12:26 pm
Cheryl44- It’s Bannonist “destruction of the administrative state” for the facilitation of corpora-fascism.

I found “One Percent Solution” and “Democracy in Chains” to be excellent source material for what is happening.
I also in fairness have to point towards “Winners take All” about how liberals are contributing to the present circumstance.
As frontline labor I’ve been very influenced and effected by these 3 works.

Comment by Honeybear Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 12:33 pm
===Can someone explain why Democrats……..there. Fixed it for you.===

Please. It’s a GOP shutdown, and we know it is because Trump told us it is, back in December: “If we don’t get what we want … I will shut down the government. And I am proud to shut down the government for border security…. I will take the mantle. I will be the one to shut it down. I’m not going to blame you for it.”

https://tinyurl.com/y9loz8op

Trump shut down the government. Mitch McConnell refuses to take up, in the Senate, numerous bills passed in the House to end the shutdown.

Any attempt to blame Democrats for this is utter dishonesty.

Comment by Nick Name Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 12:36 pm
Just read the DI article, sounds good that the state is reimbursing the interest on this debt, but is it just me that thinks the interest is a bit high?

They borrowed $1.5mm against a fixed asset and paid $700k in total interest on this note?

Comment by Midstate Indy Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 12:37 pm
@Cheryl44 =Can someone explain why Republicans want to damage to charitable/support organizations like this example; harm to federal public employees; damage to public lands; and undermining of research and evidenced-based federal agency activities?=

Gladly - GOP has a decades-long history opposing public resources. Their tax and economic policies favor their client corporations. These corporations have long-advocated for exploitation of working folks and public lands for short term profits,. The GOP has done this while supporting a more theocratic and dogmatic decision making process over scientific and evidence-based decision making. It appeared to really start cranking-up during the Reagan administration and when Newt Gingrich was US SOH.
In short, as “W” would say, it’s their base.
It’s off the charts since Trump - with few exceptions, look at his unqualified conflicted cabinet appointees, privitization proposals, and huge transfers of public wealth to private interests (see deficit exploding war-time tax cuts).

Comment by Deadbeat Conservative Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 2:09 pm
@Cheryl44 at 12:09pm
To answer your question. Because it benefits their corporate and theocratic clientele.

Comment by Overly Moderated Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 2:25 pm
What a great way to win back college educated women.

Comment by Dirty Red Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 3:38 pm