Proposal for role reversal
Social service agencies, workers and the clients they serve throughout the state are worried.
Who can blame them?
Drastic budget cuts threatened by state government hamstrung by a $12 billion deficit really would hit home for them.
Jobs would be lost. Services would be cut.
Clients who depend on agencies and their employees for a better quality of life could fall through the cracks.
In the past couple of weeks, several rallies to save human services have taken place in McHenry County.
The Family Service & Community Mental Health Center hosted representatives from the Pioneer Center, Turning Point, the Youth Service Bureau and other local social service agencies at a media event in McHenry last week. The Friendship House hosted a rally recently at its Crystal Lake home on the same day that about 20 protesters rallied outside of the Woodstock office of state Rep. Jack Franks.
Lawmakers and governors have held human services’ money hostage many times in the past. Through a bare-bones budget passed last month, they’re doing it again.
As in other hostage-takings, the lives of people who find it difficult to fight back are imperiled. The anxiety felt by human services clients and employees is an unfortunate part of the political process that is affecting public and private agencies alike. It is unfortunate, and unnecessary.
We oppose politicians putting a budget gun to the heads of Illinois’ most vulnerable citizens.
Is there a better way? Of course.
One modest proposal would be to turn the tables on the hostage takers.
Place the governor, House speaker and minority leader, and Senate president and minority leader in a locked room.
No more excuses. No more posturing. Just keep them there – hold them hostage, if you will – until they do their jobs and come up with a budget compromise that is amenable to all sides.
With a July 1 fiscal year deadline looming, we would much prefer this kind of hostage-taking to that so cold-heartedly employed by the leadership gang in Springfield.
