Observations
and comments about state government by State Representative Robert W.
Pritchard.
February
22, 2016
In
This Issue:
Ø Breaking
the Budget Gridlock
Ø Executive
Order Seeks Better Coordination and Results
Ø Higher
Education Crisis Growing
Ø County
Boards Share Legislative Agendas
Ø Social
Service Agencies Feel Different Effects
Breaking the
Budget Gridlock
Since
the General Assembly has failed to pass a balanced budget on its own, the
Governor’s budget address last week came down to Governor Rauner asking the legislators
to do one of two things. He said either
work with him or give him authority to act alone.
The
Governor’s tone was notably different than his last budget address and
especially cooperative: “With my hand outstretched--with a genuine desire to
compromise--I humbly ask you to join me in transforming our state for the
better.” He continued to say just
raising taxes without addressing the costs of government and improving the
business climate of the state will merely drive more families and jobs out of
Illinois.
His
conciliatory tone was apparently lost in the memory of past anti-union
statements, political reforms and tough negotiations. It became
quickly
apparent by body language and press statements that legislative leaders would
choose “none of the above” to the Governor’s choices.
So
where do we go from here? Over the
weekend I heard the Director of the Office of Public Leadership at the
University of Illinois Institute for Government and Public Affairs Rick Winkel
analyze our situation. According to the
director and former legislator, neither the legislative leaders nor Governor wants
to compromise on the core issues. Each
is convinced the other side will give-in. Both sides seem willing to continue the budget
gridlock, piling billions of dollars in new debt and risking the destruction of
social service agencies and our once acclaimed higher education system.
Perhaps
an influential arbitrator will appear who can bring the sides together or, more
likely, voters will have to break the stalemate. Legislative elections this year give the
choice of strengthening the power of legislative leaders or reducing it. The answer may come on March 15 or more
likely not until November.
Executive
Order Seeks Better Coordination and Results
Governor
Rauner announced a new effort last week to improve coordination and efficiency
among the 19 state agencies and various boards that impact education and human
services for children and youth. Through
an Executive Order he created a Children’s Cabinet that will enable state
policymakers to work across state agency boundaries for the benefit of students.
The
focus will be to track student educational progress, develop collaborations
among public and private partners to create new funding sources, and improve
the effectiveness of state spending on children and family programs.
The
cabinet will make policy and funding recommendations to achieve educational
outcomes at the 90 percent of grade level.
Illinois joins 17 other states that have already created this type of
cabinet over the past 20 years.
Higher
Education Crisis Growing
College
students and university officials were in Springfield last week to advocate for
student MAP grant and higher education funding.
Some crowded around the entrance to the House chamber where Governor
Rauner was to give his budget address and thus delayed his entrance into the
chamber. He never mentioned the
demonstration or higher education funding in his address.
The
students focused on SB2043 which permits spending for MAP grants and community
colleges, but not universities like NIU.
Instead of signing the bill, the Governor vetoed it last Friday because
it didn’t provide any revenue. Approval
with no revenue the Governor said would just “explode the State’s budget
deficit, exacerbate the State’s cash flow crisis, and place further strain on
social service providers and recipients.”
A
better solution to the current situation is passage of HB4539 which approves
spending for all of higher education and MAP grants plus provides a funding
mechanism. I explained the differences
in the bills with the NIU delegation.
Matthew Holt, Tim Brandner, Dillon Domke, Eric Johnson and Mike Mann
We
must find a budget resolution quickly. Colleges,
universities and human service providers can’t make payroll or continue
programs. As we learned from the rally
in DeKalb on February 11, the current impasse is causing irreparable damage to our
community, our work force, institutions and quality of life.
County
Boards Share Legislative Agendas
Boone
County officials were in Springfield last week to share their 2016 legislative
agenda and the state’s budget impact upon counties. I will be meeting with Kane and DeKalb County
officials this week.
The
Boone County delegation met with Senator Dave Syverson and me to share their
dilemma in providing county services with the uncertainty that the state will continue
withholding some of their tax revenues.
They also pointed out the need for new revenue to keep up with
infrastructure needs of the county.
The
board members described not only the need for road upgrades due to increased
traffic off of I-90 but also increased costs of maintaining existing
roads. They advocated for legislation to
join Kane and McHenry Counties which allows county boards to create a tax on
persons selling motor fuel in the county.
Social
Service Providers Feel Different Effects
The current Illinois budget crisis is
affecting each Illinois social service provider in different ways, depending
upon their legal status. Some entities
that have specialized in providing residential care or essential
living-assistance care to specific groups of patients and persons with
disabilities have found their cash flows partly protected by court orders,
consent decrees and continuing-appropriations laws. Legal language exists to ensure that some
money has kept flowing based upon need-based billing cycles.
On the other hand, no payments have
been made to providers that have traditionally offered broad-based services to
dispersed populations living in private homes.
Consequently clients with challenges of disabilities, mental health, or substance
abuse, and juveniles who have been placed under court supervision have been
severely impacted.
Many social-service providers have
responded to the cash crunch by reducing their presence in their communities. One example in our area is Lutheran Social
Services of Illinois that cut 30 programs and reduced its workforce by 43
percent. Chicago Catholic Charities--that
is owed $25 million from the state—is urging parishioners to put pressure on
state lawmakers to solve the budget impasse.
Officials say a resolution must be found if they are to continue serving
well over a million clients in our region.
Contact the office if you would like to visit about legislation or
we can be of assistance.
Bob
