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* Tribune…
Lawmakers are scheduled to meet for just three days to try to put together a spending plan for the budget year that begins July 1, a coronavirus response package that covers employment, education, health care and the courts, an enhanced vote-by-mail program for November, and a program to provide funding for safety-net hospitals that care for the poor.
But the pandemic has created plenty of unknowns, not the least of which is how far work on a budget can progress without a clear picture of how much relief will be coming from Washington to counter plummeting tax receipts — even as demands for dealing with the state’s most vulnerable residents grows.
“It’s a difficult dynamic, and there’s no good choices. There’s just bad choices and less bad choices. It’s been a very difficult situation,” said state Rep. Michael Zalewski, a Riverside Democrat.
…Adding… Case in point…
.@GovRauner was roundly criticized when he proposed cutting the program in 2015 (https://t.co/X6CTBQxePI) and it was used against him for four years
There's been a huge drop-off in screenings due to Covid-19 because it's technically an elective procedure https://t.co/80WaKubVSw
— Hannah Meisel (@hannahmeisel) May 20, 2020
*** UPDATE 1 *** Press release…
Today the Illinois legislature released its proposed FY 2020-2021 budget. Shana Crews, director of government relations in Illinois for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), made the following statement in reaction.
“The Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program provides free, necessary breast and cervical cancer screenings for uninsured women. During a time where over one million Illinoisans have lost their jobs and many may lose their employer-sponsored health insurance due to COVID-19, women need this program now more than ever. Early detection is key to saving lives. The five-year survival rate for breast cancer is 99% when detected in stage 1 but drops to 26% when detected in stage 4. Cancer doesn’t stop because of pandemics, we need to ensure all women have access to lifesaving early detection services. The legislature is currently considering a proposal to cut the funding for this program by 40%. Any cut to this funding, let alone this large of a cut, puts women’s lives at stake.”
I followed up and asked what was spent last fiscal year and what had been spent this fiscal year. The response…
FY19 was $6.5 million because the program lost many of the lead agencies who administered the program during the budget impasse.
FY20 was projected at $10.5 million in the budget book. In February, we met with the program administrators to iron out more ways to streamline the program and were feeling like we could actually get the program on track then COVID 19 hit.
Page 333: FY20 expected spend $10,512,400.
https://www2.illinois.gov/sites/budget/Documents/Budget%20Book/FY2021-Budget-Book/Fiscal-Year-2021-Operating-Budget-Book.pdfThere is no lack of demand for the program, but the government infrastructure pieces were damaged during the budget impasse and were still repairing for additional lead agencies to administer the program. There is more and more evidence because of COVID 19 that the program is critical. Kaiser conducted a study showing the number of people who have lost their health coverage because of job loss and the drop in screenings due to COVID that will be exploding later this year.
https://www.kff.org/coronavirus-covid-19/issue-brief/eligibility-for-aca-health-coverage-following-job-loss/
https://www.statnews.com/2020/05/04/cancer-screenings-drop-coronavirus-pandemic-epic/
*** UPDATE 2 *** The governor at his media briefing today…
The proposed budget I think she’s referring to one bill that’s been filed would cut the state’s breast and cervical cancer screening program by 40%…
No, I won’t stand for that. I read [Hannah Meisel’s] column this morning and let her know, and I want to I mean that’s just wrong.
I know that the intention was good. The intention was that the money hadn’t been spent, the money that had been appropriated it wasn’t being spent because so many more people who need that service are actually being covered by insurance. Now, having said that, we need to make sure that that fun that those dollars are available for everybody who needs them who falls into that gap that that Hannah, you know, talked about this morning in her column, you’ve already illustrated the budget holes as income tax sales tax corporate income tax dried up during these coronavirus closures.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 10:51 am
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“Lawmakers are scheduled to meet for just three days to try to put together a spending plan for the budget year that begins July 1″
I’ll go get the wand.
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 10:54 am
As Warren Buffet says, “It’s when the tide rolls out that you can see who was swimming naked.”
The impact on businesses, states and individuals has nearly everything to do with how financially strong they were going into this event. Illinois is no different.
Comment by Downstate Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 10:57 am
“There’s just bad choices and less bad choices.” That is what being an elected official is about.
Comment by Anyone Remember Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 11:01 am
This is fundamentally the problem with “running government like a business.” Businesses are allowed to fail. States (and federal government) needs to have a mechanism to weather economic storms, public health crises, world wars, etc.
Comment by Homebody Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 11:08 am
If there is no further federal funding it will be a challenge to say the least to figure out what to fund. First step is identify what is mandatory, second fully fund public health efforts (non-choice), what is left gets divided out with agencies taking cuts. Unfortunately a lot of services we are used to will be cut. I do see there may be a need to cut state employee salaries or do layoffs. As said lots of bad choices.
Comment by illinifan Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 11:10 am
I’m certain that people will treat the current proponents of this cut the same way they treated Rauner.
Comment by Just Another Anon Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 11:12 am
@Just Another Anon
Yeah, if they get up and walk away and force the state to be run by consent decrees, they will get the same treatment.
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 11:18 am
Reminder me how the stay at home order is helping preserve public health again?
Comment by Ray Gun Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 11:24 am
It’s complete false equivalence to compare cuts during a global pandemic and national economic collapse to what Rauner did during a growing economy. The dude is just cruel.
Comment by Grandson of Man Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 11:24 am
@Just Another Anon: The difference is, Gov. Rauner was cutting on the grounds that the state couldn’t afford it, while the legislature this year is responding to a fall in demand by reallocating spending from where it isn’t needed to where it is needed.
You’re welcome.
Comment by Socially DIstant Watcher Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 11:25 am
==It’s complete false equivalence to compare cuts during a global pandemic and national economic collapse to what Rauner did during a growing economy.==
Hannah Meisel with her tweet did a true public service. Putting a name to it and understanding the actual repercussions that must be considered when measuring and evaluating the proposed cuts is central to public policy regardless of whether it’s within a pandemic or not. I hear people say “the virus has no boundaries.” Well, breast cancer has no boundaries either.
Comment by Responsa Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 11:42 am
@ Ray Gun
Am I to understand that you’re cool with allowing a new virus that no one has immunity from, to spread throughout our communities and our world?
As others have said: you have to have a life to have a livelihood.
And many others have pointed out that those who are severely ill or dead tend not to engage in economic activities.
Comment by Lynn S. Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 11:44 am
Sure, this cut looks bad - but did anyone bother to look at actual spending on this program? Last year it was about $6.5 million, and so far this year only about $3.5 million. Maybe this “cut” is recognizing the reality that the demand isn’t there, for whatever reason.
Comment by cover Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 11:46 am
Lynn. The zero sum game you and the governor are playing is unsustainable until everyone in the country is mandated to get a vaccine. Kindly get me and others your guess on when that will be.
Noone is cool with anyone getting this virus or any other virus.
Comment by Blue Dog Dem Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 11:48 am
Three whole days? Full salaries and benefits I imagine? Thus is what being a state employee is all about.
Might I suggest that your first order of business be to write a law allowing the Legislature meet via video conference. I serve on a school board and we have met and conducted the people’s business twice already. And my paycheck for those meetings is unchanged. Zero.
Comment by Really Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 12:27 pm
=The zero sum game you and the governor are playing is unsustainable until everyone in the country is mandated to get a vaccine.=
And yet other economies around the world have opened up without a vaccine. And at no point has the governor said that reopening is contingent upon having a vaccine. You know that.
This is not a binary choice. It’s not reopen or stayed locked down. The answer continues to be our ability to execute as a country on the three Ts. For someone that claims to have an epidemiologist in the family I’m surprise at how lacking you are on these basic facts.
Comment by Pundent Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 12:31 pm
- For someone that claims to have an epidemiologist in the family -
Claims is the key word, dude tells so many lies it’s highly unlikely that one rings true.
Comment by Excitable Boy Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 12:37 pm
Cover at 11:46 nails it. All this is doing is to bring the appropriated amount in line with actual spending. $6.5 million is the most HFS has ever spent on the program. But as with all things like this, if you have to explain it you’re losing.
Comment by LTSW Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 12:44 pm
you also might find it interesting that my epidemiologist son thinks wearing a face mask is purely a feel good thing. Similar to another now famous Doctor.
Comment by Blue Dog Dem Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 12:51 pm
Link to study by NCBI on flu and SARS transmission and face masks and conclusion was face masks may help reduce transmission. Key is compliance by large portion of population. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2662657/
Comment by illinifan Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 12:59 pm
=my epidemiologist son thinks wearing a face mask is purely a feel good thing=
How touching. Odd that he would characterize it as a “feel good” thing as the primary goal of a mask is not to protect the wearer but prevent droplets from being spread to others. He must not be a fan of testing and tracing either since you don’t acknowledge it in your ongoing narrative.
What exactly do you think we should be doing to reopen the economy? The President was asked this very question yesterday. His response? It’s a bad question. Not only is not a bad question, it is the question. So given your vast medical knowledge how do you propose that we reopen the economy - safely. That is the goal right?
Comment by Pundent Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 1:01 pm
@Blue Dog
It’s a new virus. Everything we do is “feel good.” Masks might help you to keep from spreading the virus to others, it feels good to help out. Your epidemiologists son doesn’t give a rat so flaunting the rules gives him a sense of feeling good. He should go give his grandma a wet willy. That’d feel good.
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 1:02 pm
=== Noone is cool with anyone getting this virus or any other virus.===
You’re cool with it.
I can show you where.
Lemme know.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 1:07 pm
=== you also might find it interesting that my epidemiologist son thinks wearing a face mask is purely a feel good thing.===
Your son is telling you a cancer survivor that precautions are feel good.
Good to know.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 1:08 pm
FYI. The son has been doing Remdesiver clinical trials for going on three months. Spending days and nights with Covid-19 patients. You will also be glad to know, that he has volunteered to be a front line worker for Washington Universities School of Medicines clinical study for hydrochloroquine as a preventative drug. Hopefully they get their 30,000 tests.
Comment by Blue Dog Dem Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 1:11 pm
===… has been doing Remdesiver clinical trials for going on three months. Spending days and nights with Covid-19 patients. You will also be glad to know, that he has volunteered to be a front line worker for Washington Universities School of Medicines clinical study for hydrochloroquine as a preventative drug. Hopefully they get their 30,000 tests.===
… and *still* you choose money over lives
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 1:12 pm
- Similar to another now famous Doctor. -
It seems like you constantly assign thoughts to your son that you very well might have seen on the TV. Almost like you’re just inventing a Dr. son to lend perceived credibility to your preconceived opinions.
Comment by Excitable Boy Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 1:13 pm
== First step is identify what is mandatory ==
Rauner and the IL courts already did that for you a couple of years ago. It’s Bonds, Pensions, most social services …
== second fully fund public health efforts (non-choice) ==
Think they will need a bit more than normal
== what is left gets divided out with agencies taking cuts ==
Nothing or almost nothing left, so figure out a deficit funding plan for, say $3B to $7B or however much the public and borrowing, including bonds, can cover.
If you can borrow the money, are there high interest debt that can be replaced with new bonds at a lower rate?
== Unfortunately a lot of services we are used to will be cut. ==
That is a given. Even before the economic collapse, the state was looking at maybe a 5% - 8% cuts in discretionary spending unless they came up with some creative bookkeeping / financing.
== I do see there may be a need to cut state employee salaries or do layoffs. ==
Given the investment in training, probably not a good idea. Even though the State staff is already hollowed out and the State doesn’t need more debt, the best of a number of bad choices may be another early out program similar to, but not as generous, as the 2002 ERI.
Comment by RNUG Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 1:13 pm
Lots of spin. A cut is a cut, and the only reason there is a temporary fall in demand is that the procedures are classed as elective by the governor’s executive orders. Its a lack of availability. What happens when these people can finally get these lifesaving screenings after the governor’s order end, are ended, or are revised? The demand skyrockets.
Comment by Just Another Anon Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 2:02 pm
ow. Apparently JB also does.
Comment by Blue Dog Dem Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 4:12 pm
=== Apparently JB also does.===
(Sigh)
The matters within phases changed.
You chose money over lives, as a cancer surviver and as a big thumb to the nose to the doctors and nurses who saved you.
So… there’s that.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 4:16 pm
= Apparently JB also does=
JB has a plan informed by scientists and doctors with clear measurements and goals. Your leader won’t explain his plan and tells those that ask “it’s a bad question.”
We know that you think masks is a “feel good thing.” You also don’t seem to think much of testing and tracing. You’re still unwilling to answer a basic question. How do you propose we reopen the economy - safely?
Comment by Pundent Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 6:09 pm