Last week in the Capitol, I forgot to tell you I had the opportunity to meet Jason
Turner who will soon be named the next Secretary of the Dept. of Human Services.
Jason and I talked about the importance of Employment First, his work in Wisconsin
and working together with The Arc.

I also forgot to tell you that Barbara Pritchard also joined us in our meeting with
Jennifer Hammer, Adviser to the Governor on Health & Human Services. Barbara
led the discussion on employment.

House Appropriations Human Services Chairperson Greg Harris posted the
following on his Facebook page on the proposed budget below.

Tony

 

 Rep Harris

Governor Rauner’s Proposed Budget Cuts

Governor Bruce Rauner just presented his budget speech to the General Assembly.
You will find below a quick snapshot of the cuts he is proposing. This list is by no
means inclusive, but will give you an indication of the challenges that lie ahead.  I
am committed to passing a responsible budget but oppose these cuts. Illinois should
not balance its budget on the backs of children, the elderly, frail and vulnerable.
Here are some of the Governor’s proposals:

Limiting eligibility for Dept. of Aging Community Care Programs
Decreasing CCP services by 1 hour per week
Raising the Determination of Need (DON) score from 29 to 37
Eliminate add-on rates that provides health insurance to homecare workers
Cutting DCFS by $148 million
Eliminates all DCFS services for youth 18-21 for another $167.1 million
Cut adult dental and podiatry services as well as kidney transplants for
undocumented children.
Eliminate exemptions for drugs for Severe Mental Illness from the 4 prescription
limit.
Reduce rates for facilities for children on ventilators, Supportive Living Facilities
and children with Severe Mental Illness
$735 million in cuts to hospitals serving Medicaid populations
Eliminating assistance to families with Hemophilia
Freezing intakes on childcare for children over 6
Increasing childcare copays
$27.5 million in reductions to community substance abuse programs
$82 million reduction to community mental health programs

Eliminate State Funding for  the following:

The Arc of Illinois
The Autism Project
Homeless Youth Services
Children’s Place
Teen Reach
Supportive Housing
Immigrant Integration Services
Advanced Placement Classes
After School Matters
Agricultural Education
Arts and Foreign Language Programs
Parent Mentoring
Regional Safe Schools
$15.8 million cuts from ADAP and Breast and Cervical Cancer Programs
31.5% cut to higher education

This is only a quick summary of the proposals.  Usually the Governor’s Office
provides advance copies to legislators and the media for review.  They did not this
year, so more thorough and complete information will surely follow.  I will send it on
as it becomes available to me.

As always, I can be reached in Chicago at 773 348 3434, in Springfield at 217 782
3835 or at greg@gregharris.org


Tony Paulauski
Executive Director
The Arc of Illinois
20901 S. LaGrange Rd. Suite 209
Frankfort, IL 60423
815-464-1832 (OFFICE)
815-464-1832 (CELL)
Tony@thearcofil.org