Illinois Enters New Fiscal Year Without Budget
July 1, 2009
On June 30, the last day of fiscal year 2009, the General Assembly failed to pass a tax increase or other new revenue option that was needed to avoid disastrous cuts and adequately fund human services and education for young children.
A few courageous senators stood up to the proposed idea of short-term borrowing to add money to the budget. They knew that, if this passed, many human services and education programs would still be woefully under-funded, bearing most of the brunt of the budget deficit.
On July 1, Governor Quinn vetoed SB1197, introduced in May, which provided only 50% of the funds needed for grant programs, including early childhood programs in the Department of Human Services and the Illinois State Board of Education.
The General Assembly will return July 14 to Springfield to either attempt to override the governor's veto, thereby making the so-called “50% budget” the state's budget for FY10, or to consider any new ideas for a budget solution.
We know that many agencies have already begun laying off staff. We can no longer tolerate legislators making decisions based on political considerations. The pain in communities is real and it is time for legislators to protect people, not their positions!
Your legislators are back in their districts and may be making public appearances this weekend at Fourth of July parades and events. This is your opportunity to tell them to keep working until they come up with a budget that does not under-fund early childhood and other human services programs.
- Print posters (in color or black and white) and bring them to parades or events to raise awareness about the need for increased revenue to adequately fund early childhood programs in Illinois.
- Read the talking points in this flyer which you can also distribute to event participants.
- Email your legislators and urge them to choose people over politics.