Rep. Greg Harris • 13th District
Springfield Update • May 15, 2015
Last week, Speaker Mike Madigan and I began to introduce a series of amendments which will define the FY16 budget for the General Assembly. Both the House and Senate have spent the last several months holding public hearings across the state and in-depth briefings with subject matter experts to gain a deep understand of what Illinoisans value and prioritize for state spending, and what are the most efficient and accountable ways to expend funds in various program areas.
As you know, Gov. Bruce Rauner introduced a scorched earth budget which balanced by slashing services to community based senior programs, early intervention, Autism services, immigrant and refugee programs, after-school, substance abuse, community mental health, addiction treatment and prevention, homeless youth, DCFS, breast and cervical cancer, HIV/AIDS, Supportive Housing, respite services for families with developmentally disabled children and many more services, along with a 31% cut to higher education.
On the House floor, we put Gov. Rauner’s human service cuts proposal up for a public debate and vote. Not one single Member of the House, either Republican or Democrat voted for Gov. Rauner’s proposal. I then began to offer a series of amendments (listed below) that will serve as a framework for the final budget. I hasten to add that these 15 amendments are but a small fraction of the final budget. However in months of testimony these items representing top priority values for families in cities and towns across Illinois, which is why we began here to build the budget. In total, these amendments total $2,266,432,600, which represents a $50 million reduction from current year spending. We understand that times are tough, budgets must balance and even desirable programs must do more with less, so we worked with subject matter experts in advocacy and service provider groups to fund these core values while still achieving savings.
The total budget in the Appropriations Committee which I chair is about $5 billion, with another approximately $7 billion in Medicaid (plus federal match), so you can see that there are many items yet to be decided. However it is our intention to make sensible and manageable cuts, increase efficiency and maximize non-state revenues to avoid the draconian cuts such as the Governor introduced.
All of these items are amendments to House Bill 4141. You can see the bill and amendments here: http://ilga.gov/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=4141&GAID=13&GA=99&DocTypeID=HB&LegID=90371&SessionID=88
Here is a guide to the amendments and a very quick summary of some key points of each:
- Amendment 1. Governor Rauner’s proposed budget
- Amendment 2. Restores funding for Community Care Program for seniors to FY15 post-supplemental levels. Eliminates proposed changes to DON score, income eligibility, etc.
- Amendment 3. Restores eliminations of services to DCFS Wards of the State between 18-21 years old.
- Amendment 4. Funds the Child Care Assistance Program with a 3% reduction. Eliminates the Governor’s proposed service cuts for families with children over 7 years old.
- Amendment 5. Early Intervention. Governor’s reductions and eliminations are restored. A reduction of 4% from FY15 post supplemental.
- Amendment 6. Restores The Autism Program which Governor Rauner eliminated.
- Amendment 7. Restores about $13 million cut by the Governor for Addiction Treatment Grants, and maximizes flexibility for community based providers to utilize funds
- Amendment 8. Restores the Funeral and Burial Fund for indigent persons which the Governor proposed eliminating.
- Amendment 9. Restores funding to Homelessness Prevention which the Governor proposed eliminating and adds $2.8 million for Homeless Youth the Governor had proposed cutting.
- Amendment 10. Restores funding for the Home Services Program for persons with disabilities which the Governor had cut. Eliminates proposed changes to DON score, income eligibility, etc.
- Amendment 11. Restores funding for community mental health services and maximizes flexibility for providers to use services for non-Medicaid claimable services such as the Psychiatric Leadership Grants and ICG grant program for severely mentally ill children.
- Amendment 12. Restores the Supportive Housing program which the Governor had proposed eliminating.
- Amendment 13. Increases funding for the Breast and Cervical Cancer program to maintain access to screening and diagnosis for women.
- Amendment 14. Restores funding for after-school and youth programming which the Governor had proposed to eliminate. Includes programs such as Teen Reach, Boys and Girls Clubs, YMCA and YWCA as well as faith based youth providers.
- Amendment 15. Restores funding to the LIHEAP program which the Governor had proposed eliminating. This program provides assistance to low- and moderate-income families who cannot afford heating bills.
- Amendment 16. Franklin County Meth Program. Restores the program which the Governor had proposed eliminating. This is a very successful model program which helps divert people from the criminal justice system into treatment and recovery, and serves the lower 41 counties of Illinois.
There are many difficult decisions left to be made as we continue to put our fiscal house back in order, fully fund our obligations and pay our back due bills. I appreciate your comments and can be reached at 217 782 3835 or at greg@gregharris.org.