Guest guest Posted May 23, 2011 Report Share Posted May 23, 2011 Go Trib Editoral Board!!!!!! Trib editorial today May 23, 2011 Even with a tax increase, Illinois is broke, owes billions of dollars and needs o make deep budget cuts. Practically everyone who depends on the state will ake a hit. There will be pain. By making smart cuts, however, the state can void unnecessary pain. Unfortunately, Gov. Pat Quinn has targeted some of Illinois' most vulnerable itizens for his least sensible cuts. Experts in the field calculate that in his proposed budget for 2012, Quinn hacks $76.3 million from community services for the developmentally disabled: hat includes people with Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism and other hallenges. At the same time, Quinn directs $30 million in additional spending o state institutions that serve far fewer residents at much higher costs. His udget similarly favors institutional care for mental health over a ommunity-based approach. Along the way, he would forgo tens of millions in ederal matching dollars. How wrongheaded can you get? For decades now, other states have moved away from nstitutionalizing the developmentally disabled and mentally ill in overnment-run facilities — with great success. Care is better, and costs far ower. Indiana recently went in that direction, and the results have been ositive. Illinois institutionalizes far more people than most states. While the estimates ary, government-run facilities for the developmentally disabled cost as much as 500 a day per resident. A community group home typically runs $135 a day, with uperior outcomes. State legislators have pushed back on this issue. Sen. Steans, -Chicago, is among those who aim to reverse the direction of Quinn's budget by utting funding for state-run centers and boosting it for community providers. For many, many years, we've been behind on this, " she noted. Budget cuts resent an opportunity to bring Illinois up to 21st century standards. ast fall, Quinn signed an astonishing agreement with the state's public labor nion that promised no layoffs and no facility shutdowns through mid-2012. uinn's reward: an immediate endorsement from the union for his re-election bid. Governor, you made a bad promise you can't in good conscience keep. If you keep t, it will be at the expense of Illinois' most vulnerable citizens. It's appalling to think of the political calculus that went into slashing dental are and home-based supports for the developmentally disabled while hiring undreds of new state employees and handing pay hikes to the rest. Talk about kewed priorities. Disability advocates say the state could save roughly $170 million by closing our of its eight institutions. This needs to happen in a way that's least isruptive for the patients at these institutions. But it needs to happen. That agreement by the governor — he signed it alone. The House and Senate embers didn't sign it. They should agree on a budget that requires Illinois to ive within its means and that funds the most cost-effective services in the tate. And governor, if you're tempted to twirl a veto pen to preserve your labor deal remember which citizens you'll harm. Copyright © 2011, Chicago Tribune Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 23, 2011 Report Share Posted May 23, 2011 Well done. Hang on to this editorial, folks. It's got lots of good points in a small package, and worth emulating. -Gail ________________________________ From: Jerue Family <jeruefamily@...> IPADDUnite Sent: Mon, May 23, 2011 6:40:19 AM Subject: Trib editorial today May 23, 2011 Even with a tax increase, Illinois is broke, owes billions of dollars and needs to make deep budget cuts. Practically everyone who depends on the state will take a hit. There will be pain. By making smart cuts, however, the state can avoid unnecessary pain. Unfortunately, Gov. Pat Quinn has targeted some of Illinois' most vulnerable citizens for his least sensible cuts. Experts in the field calculate that in his proposed budget for 2012, Quinn whacks $76.3 million from community services for the developmentally disabled: That includes people with Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism and other challenges. At the same time, Quinn directs $30 million in additional spending to state institutions that serve far fewer residents at much higher costs. His budget similarly favors institutional care for mental health over a community-based approach. Along the way, he would forgo tens of millions in federal matching dollars. How wrongheaded can you get? For decades now, other states have moved away from institutionalizing the developmentally disabled and mentally ill in government-run facilities — with great success. Care is better, and costs far lower. Indiana recently went in that direction, and the results have been positive. Illinois institutionalizes far more people than most states. While the estimates vary, government-run facilities for the developmentally disabled cost as much as $500 a day per resident. A community group home typically runs $135 a day, with superior outcomes. State legislators have pushed back on this issue. Sen. Steans, D-Chicago, is among those who aim to reverse the direction of Quinn's budget by cutting funding for state-run centers and boosting it for community providers. " For many, many years, we've been behind on this, " she noted. Budget cuts present an opportunity to bring Illinois up to 21st century standards. Last fall, Quinn signed an astonishing agreement with the state's public labor union that promised no layoffs and no facility shutdowns through mid-2012. Quinn's reward: an immediate endorsement from the union for his re-election bid. Governor, you made a bad promise you can't in good conscience keep. If you keep it, it will be at the expense of Illinois' most vulnerable citizens. It's appalling to think of the political calculus that went into slashing dental care and home-based supports for the developmentally disabled while hiring hundreds of new state employees and handing pay hikes to the rest. Talk about skewed priorities. Disability advocates say the state could save roughly $170 million by closing four of its eight institutions. This needs to happen in a way that's least disruptive for the patients at these institutions. But it needs to happen. That agreement by the governor — he signed it alone. The House and Senate members didn't sign it. They should agree on a budget that requires Illinois to live within its means and that funds the most cost-effective services in the state. And governor, if you're tempted to twirl a veto pen to preserve your labor deal — remember which citizens you'll harm. Copyright © 2011, Chicago Tribune Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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