Budget News

SEIU Healthcare Illinois – representing more than 35,000 child care providers and 35,000 workers who provide home care to seniors and people with disabilities – launched a hard hitting advertising campaign today timed to coincide with the return of legislators to Springfield calling on the General Assembly to stop deep cuts to child care and home care services in the FY10 budget.

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The Associated Press’s Chris Wills reports on the magnified impact of budget cuts during a recession. When economic times are tough, working families depend on vital public services more than ever. Yet a $12.4 billion budget deficit and a flawed revenue system are threatening the ability of programs to meet demand, now and in the future. Wills highlights a few areas of concern:

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As the economy worsens and unemployment rates rise, more and more families find themselves without health insurance or access to affordable health care. A recent Illinois hospital report proves that families in Illinois are already foregoing elective procedures and relying more heavily on emergency rooms and charity care to get the treatment they need, putting greater pressure on a health care system that is facing an unprecedented state budget deficit that could mean more payment delays and drastic cuts if legislators fail to pass a substantial new revenue package.

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The Associated Press’s Andrea Zelinski picks up on a serious threat to senior home care in Illinois. A $40 million budget gap in the proposed budget could mean service cuts and reduced access to vital care for over 50,000 seniors who receive care through the state’s Community Care Program. On top of a $12.4 billion budget deficit and the potential for cuts to all the vital public services working families depend on, the future of Illinois looks dire unless legislators step up and find a long-term solution to our financial crisis through new revenue.

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