More Budget Cuts For The Poor From Bruce Rauner

By aaroncynic in News on Apr 24, 2015 8:30PM

Late yesterday, details emerged of exactly how much Governor Bruce Rauner plans to shake out of the pockets of the poor as his office tries to fill a $1.6 billion budget hole. The Peoria Journal Star reports services for the homeless and rape and domestic violence victims will all see cuts, along with funds for Illinois community colleges, including the Monetary Award Program. Overall, the Department of Human Services will lose $1.1 million, community colleges $6.7 million, and the Medicaid health program for the poor will be slashed by $106 million.

State Senator Heather Steans told the Chicago Tribune the cuts are “consistent” with agreements made between Rauner and lawmakers during budget negotiations.

The governor took some heat earlier this week for suspending an additional $26 million in grants for social services and public health, which took some state lawmakers by surprise. Rauner’s budget director, Tim Nuding, told a special committee formed by House Speaker Michael Madigan his office would do a “a better job communicating” in the future, particularly with the much larger and more contentious budget for the fiscal year beginning in July. “That issue is of great importance to me,” said Nuding, according to the AP. “I feel like I communicated through all the proper channels about my intention. I apologize if there was a misunderstanding.”

Rauner’s making an attempt to box in Democrats with the looming July fiscal budget. His office is pushing for billions of dollars worth of cuts, while Democrats seek new revenue options, including a raise in taxes. Rauner has hinted he would be open to the idea, but only if lawmakers allow him to move forward with his plans to gut workers compensation and move forward with "right to work" legislation.