 Keith Kuhn, spokesman for a Springfield drug treatment group, blamed
several overdose deaths on last year's cuts and predicts even more
this year.
Organizations are lobbying to restore funding, calling for higher
taxes. Lawmakers rejected such a plan last week.
Gov. Pat Quinn's office predicts the 50 percent cut in human
services will leave up to 65,000 alcohol and substance abusers
without treatment and 80,000 low-income mothers without child care
services.
Funding was cut last year under former Gov. Rod Blagojevich but
restored five months later amid fear federal funding would also be
lost.
[Associated Press]
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