Posted on 06/18/2009 7:50:40 PM PDT by uptoolate
There is outrage over the state budget crisis. Thousands vented their pain and anger at a rally downtown Thursday. Chanting people first not politics, they supported a state income tax hike instead of doomsday cuts. Vital services for kids, seniors, the disabled and the homeless are about to be cut in half. Their backers want to send a message to lawmakers in Springfield.
"Work it out or there's a mood now developing in the state where you won't be there in the next election," said Chuck Nilles, Community Support Services. "Change is now."
That's the big picture, but the impact touches so many lives. CBS 2's Kristyn Hartman reports with the personal toll.
Illinois doesn't have much further to fall when it comes to helping its most vulnerable. According to the "2009 State of the States in Developmental Disabilities", the Land of Lincoln ranks 47th in the United States. And critics say what's bad is getting worse.
A family CBS 2 met told us how.
A child living with Down syndrome or autism requires special therapies, sometimes special education. That's why something like the Illinois Family Assistance Program was a big help to Cathy and Richard Bedard and their three kids with special needs.
"It's very costly to raise children who have developmental disabilities," Cathy Bedard said.
The Bedards just got a letter with Governor Quinn's name on it informing them: "that funding for the family assistance program will not be renewed."
It means a more than $1,200 stipend the Bedards came to rely on for therapies and schooling is gone as of July 1st, eliminated in tough budget times.
"I was angry. I was very, very angry. I was devastated. I was frightened," Cathy said. "At this point in time, we're looking at bankruptcy."
They aren't the only ones hurt in the crunch.
People served by the Department of Human Services met outside the Thompson Center, they say, to protest cuts in excess of $2 billion that will directly affect the state's most vulnerable.
The governor wanted a tax hike to preserve programs. It was rejected.
"I would support a tax hike," Richard Bedard said.
When asked if she thinks it only has to be done through taxation alone or if other things can be cut, Cathy Bedard said, "Oh, I'm positive they can find other things to cut."
Especially, she says, when you consider programs that allow children with special needs to stay with their families - save money. Cathy says she has saved the state money by not institutionalizing her children.
"I've saved the state over $300,000 by keeping my children at home where they belong," Cathy said. "I don't think our kids are pork. Why are they cutting that out of the budget? Cut the other pork. My kid isn't pork."
So do you think cash should go to livestock awards, the Illinois wine and grape industry or high-end Port-A-Potties? It's in the budget. But if you cut it, it doesn't come close to saving other programs. The fact is some of the biggest costs are payroll and pensions.
A representative for Gov. Quinn said the General Assembly has forced this budget situation on Quinn. He said Quinn recommended pension reform that would save money. He also said they'll revisit the temporary income tax hike idea.
Later Thursday, Quinn called for a special session of the Illinois General Assembly to grapple with budgetary and ethics reform.
A proclamation Quinn signed Thursday says the session will convene Tuesday. It says a primary aim will be to deal with the state's financial crisis.
Ok, ok! You're all correct and I stand corrected!
LOL!
Sorry to hear about the CVS diagnosis. We were spending about three days every six months in the hospital for dehydration. At one point his face looked like a sunken skull, and that happened in a matter of minutes.
We have found that suppositories are the only thing that works. We try to catch it as early as possible. The suppository keeps him from vomiting until he is ready to take liquids again. He is usually out cold for most of the day. We are hoping it won’t turn in to migraines when he hits the teen years.
That’s nothing, watch California!
arnie better take that set of brass bull balls that were returned to hom and put them in the middle of his desk!
He needs a second set to put on top of his instrument panel in his jet so he doesn’t forget!
They thought protesting and “activism” were jobs. :)
Why don't you cut him a check instead? Leave me out of it.
His family is in need of help for his disabled child.
Boo fricking hoo. So am I. I'm not taking any money from my fellow citizens, though. We don't need it and we don't want it. It's stolen money.
I’d sooner look at cutting other costs, like salaries and pensions (as noted in the article).
Really? I'd rather take a flamethrower to Illinois Government myself.
L
That’s funny. Thanks for the chuckle.
Deport illegal aliens. This will save hundreds of millions. Lib Dem states are toilets of unemployment, corruption and misery. The GOP needs to point that out every day. “This is what failure and misery are.”
Stop the corruption in Chicago and you could fund everything.
See if Obama’s friends (Rezko, Auchi, Ayers, Wright) can pitch in some money for the poor. Wright’ new home could house many families. Bill Ayer’s late father was rich as could be; let’s get that money for the poor.
The Daley’s are up to their neck in corruption. Seize their assets. Schakowsky’s a commie - she doesnt’ need any money. Seizure her congressional salary and perks. That would feed and house a block of poor people for a year.
How about taking back the extortion money that the Rev. Jesse Jackson ripped off from “big businesses”? That ain’t chump change. An audit of the books of Operation Push, Breadbasket and the Rainbow Coalition should show some very interesting donations (rubles, anyone?).
The list could go on forever. Rahm Emanuel could sell his ballet tutu for charity. That might bring in a dollar-fifty.
More scandals coming re Chicago/Illinois politics. Fine the bastards and give it to the poor, where it was ripped off from in the first place.
NO MONEY FOR ACORN: ONLY JAIL!
They are saying “tax THEM more, Tax THEM more.” It is going to be a minorty of taxpayers versus a majority of welfare leeches as the economy and the tax base shrinks.
Yes, as you’ll see down thread, I seemed to be the only one to whom that hadn’t occurred.
I was surprised to discover that this wasn't California, although the whines of the welfare pets and the public employees (the other welfare) are identical.
People first? Unless they're taxpayers who don't get their income directly from the government?
Doomsday cuts? That is hilarious.
Retirees took income cuts of between 25 and 50 percent. Other workers in private industry lost their jobs altogether. Is suggesting a 10% across the board cut in state expenditures a greater Doomsday scenario?
Give me a break!
If we listen carefully, we can hear the taxpayers, the non-government employees and the real workers who have never exploited children for their income and sustenance shouting loud and clear: If we don't have the income, if we are losing our homes, we can't pay increased taxes with money we don't have.
At the same time, the noble legislatures have formulated budgets for the next fiscal year that actually contain increases for all the usual squeaky wheels for whom reality doesn't apply. I'm sure that would include Illinois.
I know it is true in California.
The reality-free zones...
I generally agree with your sentiment. Cut spending for the welfare buns, outrageous pensions, and many other unnecessary programs. Still, the advocates for special needs kids have no limits on the amounts demanded. They need to show some restraint also.
Nearly all of the billions of dollars in cuts the administration has proposed would affect programs for poor Californians...
“Government doesn’t provide services to rich people,” Mike Genest, the state’s finance director, said on a conference call with reporters on Friday. “It doesn’t even really provide services to the middle class.” He added: “You have to cut where the money is.”
Well, you still haven't seen it.
Yhose thousands are exclusively leeches and public employees dependent on a docile body of taxpayers who simply exist to support the bureaucracy, and who have no limit to the amount they can be taxed.
I’m one to talk. I do that all the time! : )
Rosanna Rosanna Danna
I wonder if CBS would print this story? Probably not, doesn’t fit the mold.
What an incredible story. My hat is off to you!
No matter how bad off we think we are there truly is somebody out there that is worse off. But with your faith in family and the Lord you manage to make it!
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