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Group won’t advocate for more money for one program at expense of others

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Illinois

* An interesting move…

Hi Rich.

Now that the primary is over, it’s a good time to remind people that despite the fact that there was (and will continue to be) a never-ending stream of money available to win (and lose) elections, the same cannot be said when it comes to funds available to ensure Illinois children, families and communities have the tools they need to thrive.

While attention has been diverted to elections, the normal budgeting process has geared up, and appropriations committees in both the House and Senate have started hearing testimony on the governor’s proposed budget and agency requests for FY17. And of course, that is occurring against the backdrop of a budgetless FY16.

As it does every year, Voices is submitting testimony. The governor and agencies have, in some cases, proposed increases in line items that would have a significant positive impact on children and families. This year, we are not unconditionally supporting increases in spending for line-items we traditionally care about - a move that would be absurd in a normal year.

But, as we said in our testimony submitted today to the Senate Approps I committee, as an advocacy organization for children, it is extremely difficult for us to advocate for more funding for one priority if it comes at the expense of another. The truth is that our state continues to fail our kids, as the ongoing budget crisis erodes our ability to give them the opportunity that they require to be successful students, skilled employees, taxpayers, and productive citizens.

Now that the election is over, maybe lawmakers and the governor can take a beat and consider that when they express a desire to fund vital programs, like human services, PK-12 and higher education, they must also consider how they will pay for those programs.

Emily Miller
Voices for Illinois Children

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Mar 16, 16 @ 10:32 am

Comments

Did Voices just indicate they are opposing the governor’s plan to increase funding for early childhood learning?

Since The Ounce of Prevention Fund is a member of the Voices coalition, that seems newsworthy.

Comment by Juvenal Wednesday, Mar 16, 16 @ 10:42 am
She’s got that right.

But she left out the other important part-it’s not just how much, but who pays.

Will we see a chorus of hedge fund managers coming to the microphone to suggest that they pay
more proportionately, given their extraordinary wealth gains of recent years. Unlikely. Why should they. It’s Illinois. Both parties appear to have decided that any additional revenues will come disproportionately from the state’s increasingly weak middle class. Nothing about yesterday’s election has changed that.

Comment by Cassandra Wednesday, Mar 16, 16 @ 11:04 am
It’s a recognition that human services is a system…children need parents who are employed, have a place to live, have treatment available for mental health issues. Cycles of domestic violence have to be broken. Childcare is needed to maintain employment so that more children don’t end up needing services. The “Starve the Beast” strategy would turn human services into cannibals…killing each other off and/or mergiing and overall doing less. I am impatient for the fall election so I can vote against my Republican Senator because I’m so vexed by Senate Leader Radogno’s public embracing of the strategy. This bums me out as I like my Senator.

Comment by Earnest Wednesday, Mar 16, 16 @ 11:05 am
Emily +1

now Rauner needs to stop thinking raising taxes is a gift to be given to the democrats and work on a bipartisan funding solutiin…. something other then magical money saved

Comment by Ghost Wednesday, Mar 16, 16 @ 11:22 am
I applaud this move. Human Services really is a system. You can’t do child welfare without having substance abuse treatment, jobs and housing available. Many, many at-risk people need health care, mental health treatment etc. The only reason most community services exist is because they save money for ‘deep end’ systems like corrections. Many of these cuts will end up costing money, not saving it.

Comment by DuPage Centrist Wednesday, Mar 16, 16 @ 11:35 am
This is why our agency does citizenship work alongside GED and ESL, Parent engagement alongside after school programs, family support alongside teen parenting classes. If you only fix one leg of the ladder, you’re wasting your effort and endangering others.

Comment by Burbling 'Burbs Wednesday, Mar 16, 16 @ 1:15 pm