Illinois' Budget Crisis

[mamajoan]

Grant money for charities... the losses will be immense!!
I think the problem of the idea of relying on charities to provide care for the disabled, elderly or children is .. consistency.

It is more than difficult to budget services on charitable giving, but to rely on it to provide basic living need services for those listed is taking a big chance with peoples lives.

I am thankful that there are generous people in this world who share not only their money but their time with/for those in need.

I do believe that welfare recipients should be required to do some type of measurable volunteer work if physically/mentally capable of doing so.

 

[daughtersrus]

"For the ones who really cannot care for themselves and have no family to help then the government should step in. "

The government help is what is being cut. It's hard to find people willing to be foster parents as it now. How difficult is it going to be when the funding for the services is cut?

The same is true for those that are currently listed as Emergency or Critical in the PUNS Database. They are not getting services now as it is and with the budget cuts, it's likely that they will ever get them. In the past, they pull a few names each year "randomly" to get these services as the funds are available. If there are no funds available, no names are pulled. These people may have families but they may not be in the position to help.

Insurance coverage is getting worse. The state brags that they were the first to have insurance coverage for all kids. What they don't say is that it's difficult and nearly impossible to find a provider that will accept this insurance. What good is it to be the first state to offer insurance if you can't find a medical provider that will take it?

All of this just really irks me especially when I hear that the taxpayers may be on the hook for covering the Olympics or that there's $500 Million in taxpayer money that is going to be used at the discretion of the politicians for their pet projects. At least the kids in Shorewood will be able to play baseball at night now that they'll have lights!

If other states can provide these services, why can't IL? Why are they ranked 51?

 

[SeedsLuvDisney]

First off, I think its the city of Chicago that has signed guarantees for the Olympics, not the state..

Secondly, regarding the lights at the baseball fields vs the social services being cut. Why should it be only the poor and needy that get state money for projects? Aren't the middle class kids just as worthy of such funding?

We as a state HAVE to cut something or raise revenue, it seems those that pay taxes are fed up with it, so that leaves cutting expenses, people on this thread have stated that social services shouldn't be, but haven't offered up what should be cut other than the token idea of trimming the salaries of the state reps.

So if not Social Services, then what? Education and shorting the vast majority for once again catering to the vast minority?

We suffer from the same disease as the entire nation, too many people wanting freebies at the expense of the other taxpayers. This thread is a perfect example of that getting out of control, according to some "these people are entitled to this" and if we would start another thread about another area to be cut, another group would claim "we are entiled to that money".. So the folks in Springfield appease everyone and fund every program and now its to the point that we are asking the taxpayers to shift more of their money on down the ladder.

 

[manning]

What's that old saying "how do you squeeze blood out of a turnip?"

My dad use to say "we want more than we can afford".

 

[mamajoan]

Lights for parks vs medical care, foster care, LTC for elderly, short term housing for the homeless... no question in my mind..


Priorities, Priorities. That is what the budget has to do. Problem being everyone has different priorities

oh ... and the number of turnips is increasing so the amount of blood is decreasing....

I realize that there is a "welfare mentality" .. but I also know that the majority of people rec'ing services do not "want freebies''.

hopefully we will all survive and learn from the mistakes made by all

 

[SeedsLuvDisney]

The kids in Shorewood have parents that pay taxes, don't they deserve a return on the taxes they pay? Why should those of us that shoulder the tax burden be the ones that recieve the least in return and the ones that pay the least recieve the most?

 

[Free4Life11]

Can anyone post a breakdown of the Illinois state budget?

I thought I found it online, but transportation accounted for about $12 billion and it seemed the whole budget was about $23 billion?

Certainly that can't be right, 50% of the budget being spent on transportation?

 

[mamajoan]

To those who have some issues regarding "entitlement" and would prefer to see a cutback in social service programs:

Has poverty ever touched your own life? Do you work/volunteer directly with people who are recipients of Medicaid, SSI, Food Stamps, Public Housing?
Have you ever personally known someone who has been thru the Foster Care System? Have you ever talked to a parent of a mentally ill child? Have you had to care for a developmentally disabled adult?

If not I urge you to take a step back and think... empathize.
Yes, budget cuts have to be made... reorganization and correction that will be painful but needed is overdue. Double dipping, overpayment of services has to stop now. That is what I hope the new budget will include in its effort to decrease spending.

I am consumed with the thought of our upcoming real estate tax increase and the bill coming up in July. I agonize over where the money is going to come from to pay the bill. .... but for now I know we are ok. For us, Lifestyle changes are in progress

 

[SeedsLuvDisney]

Then donate to charities, don't force the taxpayers to flip the bill.

 

[shrubber]

To those who have some issues regarding "entitlement" and would prefer to see a cutback in social service programs:

Has poverty ever touched your own life? Do you work/volunteer directly with people who are recipients of Medicaid, SSI, Food Stamps, Public Housing?
Have you ever personally known someone who has been thru the Foster Care System? Have you ever talked to a parent of a mentally ill child? Have you had to care for a developmentally disabled adult?

If not I urge you to take a step back and think... empathize.
Yes, budget cuts have to be made... reorganization and correction that will be painful but needed is overdue. Double dipping, overpayment of services has to stop now. That is what I hope the new budget will include in its effort to decrease spending.

I am consumed with the thought of our upcoming real estate tax increase and the bill coming up in July. I agonize over where the money is going to come from to pay the bill. .... but for now I know we are ok. For us, Lifestyle changes are in progress

As James Madison said
"I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution which granted a right to Congress of expending, on objects of benevolence, the money of their constituents."

 

[wall*e2008]

The government help is what is being cut. It's hard to find people willing to be foster parents as it now. How difficult is it going to be when the funding for the services is cut?

The same is true for those that are currently listed as Emergency or Critical in the PUNS Database. They are not getting services now as it is and with the budget cuts, it's likely that they will ever get them. In the past, they pull a few names each year "randomly" to get these services as the funds are available. If there are no funds available, no names are pulled. These people may have families but they may not be in the position to help.

Insurance coverage is getting worse. The state brags that they were the first to have insurance coverage for all kids. What they don't say is that it's difficult and nearly impossible to find a provider that will accept this insurance. What good is it to be the first state to offer insurance if you can't find a medical provider that will take it?

All of this just really irks me especially when I hear that the taxpayers may be on the hook for covering the Olympics or that there's $500 Million in taxpayer money that is going to be used at the discretion of the politicians for their pet projects. At least the kids in Shorewood will be able to play baseball at night now that they'll have lights!

If other states can provide these services, why can't IL? Why are they ranked 51?

The question was "However, please tell me what should be done with those who can not care for themselves? " and I answered it.

It is obvious I do not believe that all government aid should be cut but it needs to be curtailed for the ones who use it as a crutch not to do what they should be doing.

IL and CA maybe the first to have to address this problem but they will not be the last.

 

[shrubber]

My sister works full time & still can't make ends meet without the minimal help(FS, Child Care & Medical) & she has a 12yo son with mental health problems,
I hope you are still as smug & satisfied that they're no longer getting any state help when he seriously harms or murders someone like maybe someone you love(god forbid!) Most the people that get these benefits desperately need them & would be really happy if they didn't!!! when the needy are living in the streets, how many will you take in or prvide for?

As for why the poor & defensless, It is because they are easy pickings.

In the interest of keeping friendly, please do not call me smug

 

[wall*e2008]

To those who have some issues regarding "entitlement" and would prefer to see a cutback in social service programs:

Has poverty ever touched your own life? Do you work/volunteer directly with people who are recipients of Medicaid, SSI, Food Stamps, Public Housing?
Have you ever personally known someone who has been thru the Foster Care System? Have you ever talked to a parent of a mentally ill child? Have you had to care for a developmentally disabled adult?

If not I urge you to take a step back and think... empathize.
Yes, budget cuts have to be made... reorganization and correction that will be painful but needed is overdue. Double dipping, overpayment of services has to stop now. That is what I hope the new budget will include in its effort to decrease spending.

I am consumed with the thought of our upcoming real estate tax increase and the bill coming up in July. I agonize over where the money is going to come from to pay the bill. .... but for now I know we are ok. For us, Lifestyle changes are in progress

Has poverty ever touched your own life? Yes, my sister lives below the poverty level and I do not send her to the state to get stuff but I help her where it is need and will not make her dependent on me. I also try to encourage her to do better.

Do you work/volunteer directly with people who are recipients of Medicaid, SSI, Food Stamps, Public Housing? Not right this minute but I have in the past.

Have you ever personally known someone who has been thru the Foster Care System? Yes many. Some had good experiences that eventually led to adoptions and others did not. I also know of many children who were returned to abusive bio parents so the bio parents could get free housing, welfare and food stamps. I am sure those kids were excited to be ripped from the caring foster parent who wanted to adopt them and being return to the crap parents.

Have you ever talked to a parent of a mentally ill child? No need to talk we know them personally and saw how they struggled to do it themselves, since the kid was their obligation. We helped when possible, but it was just a drop in the bucket of what they had to do.

Have you had to care for a developmentally disabled adult? No


But is it right for me to be asked to shoulder more burden so others can still have their benefits. What about how my standard of living changes or the reduction in my charitable contributions due to the government taking that extra money from me?

 

[FireDancer]

Has poverty ever touched your own life? Do you work/volunteer directly with people who are recipients of Medicaid, SSI, Food Stamps, Public Housing?
Have you ever personally known someone who has been thru the Foster Care System? Have you ever talked to a parent of a mentally ill child? Have you had to care for a developmentally disabled adult?

I decided to bite the bullet and work 48 hours a week to put myself through college so that I can get a job that keeps me away from being impoverished. It wasn't fun working 48 hours a week and taking 14 credit hours to graduate in 3 years but I did it. I am not mentioning this because I think I am better than anyone but I believe if you have the drive to make yourself better you will. I have no sympathy for anyone who is able and does not do for themselves. If you have kids you can't afford or drop out of 9th grade and wonder why you can't find a good job the reason is in the mirror, not society. And I want to clarify I don't mean any particular you, just the general you.

All of the things you mentioned are very real needs that should be addressed. What I do not like is that the government looks at my paycheck and decides for me that I will pay for them. I want the choice to contribute if I feel like I should, which I would.

I am not of the opinion that only social programs should be cut, there is so much fat that could be trimmed from our state and federal governments it is sad.

The other question is that of responsibility. We are all responsible for ourselves and for our children. That is where our responsibility stops. All the rest is choice and not responsibility.

I don't mean this as an attack, merely an opinion.

"A wise and frugal government, which shall leave men free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned - this is the sum of good government." - Thomas Jefferson

 

[luvsJack]

Not from Illinois, but just wanted to say that I find it so very sad that we as a society feel no responsiblity for our fellow man. We have becomed so self absorbed that we can only see our own needs and how we meet those needs. We have become unable to understand that not everyone is "us", not everyone can do what we did. Some need help in their lives. Maybe for only a little while but it is still needed all the same. Charities cannot replace these government programs. It is a lovely thought, but not enough people in our self absorbed society will give to these charities. We are too busy saying "well, I worked 80 hours a week to get where I am, she (he, they) can too"


Single moms of children with dead beat dads that are trying to make things better in their lives and then the little help they get is pulled out from under them due to "budget cuts"; but thats ok the rich kids (or middle class or whoever) can play baseball at night--alll is good.

 

[SeedsLuvDisney]

Whatever happened to self responsibility in this country?

 

[luvsJack]

Whatever happened to self responsibility in this country?

And what happened to caring for our fellow man? These programs are flawed in design, that I agree. But there are too many that need these programs. Pulling the rug out from under them is going to be a sad thing.

 

[SeedsLuvDisney]

Taxpayers can only do so much for so many, we have crossed that point and too many people now expect the govt to take care of them.. How is that going to work for the future of this country?

Sorry, my concern is for my family and my kids family...

 

[FireDancer]

I worked 80 hours a week to get where I am, she (he, they) can too

exactly . Make ALL decisions with the long term in mind.

Getting back to the question of state budgets, if more people thought about what they undertake before they undertake it the need for me to pay for it will be much less. When the government decides we are all big boys and girls who should be able to get through life on our own the need for those few who can't can be better handled by the charities that we, the people, decide to support.

I am afraid this thread will get mean, it sounds like it is already, so I wanted to remind everyone we can have different opinions and still be respectful. I don't want to see the thread closed before we solve the cash crisis in Illinois. Maybe if you guys dropped that s that no one pronounces anyway you'd save enough on ink to take care of the issue.

 

[shrubber]

Charities cannot replace these government programs. I

Why not?