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.
Looks like you guys have your work cut out for you to pull out more people with your own “Chicago Tea Party” to swamp these guy..!
Can you imagine any behavior more rude and selfish? That's Democrats for you...
The "protesters" from this story are those very cretins, and they want big thuggish government to confiscate more money from their neighbors... and "redistribute" it to them. That is who these scumbags are. As always, whether they get what they want depends on whether the parasites outnumber the hosts.
Chicago should be mounting counter protests with taxpayers, chanting "Cut the taxes, cut the spending!".
It took a few months to diagnose. We went the hospital / dehydration route as well. She currently takes two, 4mg cyproheptadines at night. This controls things most of the time. We also have some dissolve under the tongue ondansetron - 4mg for when things get bad and she’s going to have an episode. It’s such a bizarre condition. We too are hoping she outgrows it.
We are rapidly approaching the point where there's more people taking than giving. Newt described it as more people riding in the wagon than pushing the wagon.
Something’s gotta give!
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