I spoke today at a press conference on the IL budget cuts to community programs

[spiritual_gunfighter]

Today there was a press conference in Yorkville about the IL budget and the slashing of community based programs. I sit on the Kendall County Mental Health board and spoke about my own experiences receiving help from community based programs and was interviewed by the Beacon Sun after the presser. If you are unfamiliar with what is being cut here are some examples

The budget is cutting community-provided programs by $5 billion
The budget is cutting State-provided services by $4.2 billion
This will force layoffs of more than 10,000 state workers
Cost IL $2 billion in lost federal matching funds this year
Endanger up to $3 billion in federal stimulus funds over the next two years
Eliminate child care assistance for 142,085 children at the cost of $271 million
Closing six of nine state-operated psychiatric hospitals
Closing four of nine state-operated developental centers
Closing IL School for the Deaf and Visually Impared
Eliminating all foster care respite and support services
Eliminating all state funding for 36 Child Advocacy Centers that serve abused children
Eliminating state funds for the homeless by 100% (yes 100%)
Eliminating grant to IL Poison Control Center for 24 hour hotline prevention and treatment
Eliminating the Communities of Color Prostate Cancer Initiative providing outreach, education and screenings to 75,000 IL men
Eliminating Juvenile Diabetes Research grant
Cutting funding for community health programs by 75% including
Teen REACH
Healthy Families
Domestic Violence

I only listed about a third of all the cuts. Illinois has not increased the income tax in 28 years, I think it is time. Cutting programs on the backs of our most vulnerable isn't the way to reach a balanced budget. If you don't want this to happen we have until July 1st to contact your representative and tell them not to do this.

[jaxx]

1. Plus not paying for funerals for the poor.

Once again, the poor and helpless are going to be stepped on, it's just plain rotten. I agree, it's time to raise taxes.

[stevebreeze]

2. The Kane County Democrats voted to support Quinn's tax increase

this past Tuesday. It passed without dissent.

[madrchsod]

3. my wife works for the kreider services in dixon....

they will be taking a huge cut in funding. they will have to send at least 200 clients from their homes to a state institution. the autism center will close along with all the services the mentally disable who live at home but receive training and jobs from kreider . there will also be a substantial cut of employees if the funding is`t passed.

our state senator was born and raised in dixon and he`s well aware of what is happening in his home town....

[mucifer]

4. I work for a non profit hospice and the state might cut the public aid hospice

benefit. Most kids on hospice have public aid insurance. Not to mention all the adults on public aid. So there might be lots more people with uncontrolled symptoms at the end of life who won't get the choice of dying at home without a 911 call. It's also possible all of the non profit hospices could close and there may only be for profit hospices in this state. I hope governor Quinn knows what he is doing with his game of "chicken".

BTW thanks for speaking at the press conference. :)