|
But few, if any, legislators here are supporting the plan Quinn
outlined Thursday afternoon. The
governor wants to shutter:
-
Tinley Park in Tinley
Park.
-
Singer Mental Health
Center in Rockford.
-
Chester Mental Health
Center in Chester.
-
Mabley Developmental
Center in Dixon.
-
Jacksonville
Developmental Center in Jacksonville.
-
Logan Correctional
Center in Lincoln.
-
Illinois Youth Center in Murphysboro.
In all, 1,938 state employees will be laid off.
But Quinn said he has no choice.
"We clearly do not have enough money in the budget that was
appropriated by the Legislature in the spring to pay the personnel
and facility costs of a number of facilities and people who work for
the state of Illinois," the governor said.
Lawmakers see things differently.
State Sen. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington, who lost to Quinn in the
2010 gubernatorial race, said Quinn is targeting GOP lawmakers and
Illinois residents with severe disabilities.
"He's attacking six out of seven facilities that are in
Republican districts; he's holding some of the most vulnerable
citizens of our state hostage," Brady said.
The Logan Correctional Center in Lincoln will be a part of the
district Brady is to represent under Illinois' new political map.
State Sen. Larry Bomke, R-Springfield, currently represents the
area.
Brady, who ran on a platform of cutting state spending, said
Quinn is cutting from the wrong areas.
"Had he done the hard work and systemically dealt with state
spending, reforming the Medicaid system or reforming the State Board
of Education, where real savings could take place, we wouldn't have
to see these antics," Brady said.
State Rep. Frank Mautino, D-Spring Valley, said even though many
of the to-be-closed sites fall in GOP areas, Democratic and
Republican lawmakers will fight the governor's plans.
"When you're talking about the closure of five (mental health and
developmental) centers, there is a local impact regardless of where
you're from," said Mautino.
[to top of second column]
 |
Two facilities on the governor's closing list are in the district
of state Sen. Dave Luechtefeld, R-Okawville. The southern Illinois
senator said workers at the Chester Mental Health Center and the
youth camp in Murphysboro are being terrorized for nothing.
"I really think (Quinn's) main goal is to force legislators to
give him the money he thinks he needs," Luechtefeld said.
Luechtefeld is quick to say it will be "months before something
will happen" to these two facilities.
But state Rep. Jim Watson, R-Jacksonville, said, "I'm tired of
dealing with chief executives who can't lead, that think that they
lead with threats and by toying with people's lives."
The developmental center in Jacksonville is in the heart of
Watson's district, and he expressed concern for families whose
relatives are being served at that center.
But Luechtefeld said legislative leaders, including House Speaker
Mike Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton, both Democrats
from Chicago, will decide what is to become of Quinn's closings, not
the rank and file.
Cullerton's office issued a statement Thursday that highlights
the closure process.
"There is a clear process to be followed in proposing any
facility closings and initiating layoffs. The Senate president is
confident that the Commission on Government Forecasting and
Accountability will conduct a thorough review of the governor's
proposals," the statement said.
Quinn said it would be January at the earliest before a facility
can close or workers will be laid off.
[Illinois
Statehouse News; By BENJAMIN YOUNT] |
