|
The plan is to cut 2.5 million Direct Support Professional
workers' service hours in group homes where approximately 10,000
adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities live.
The pushback was led by State Sen. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet, who
penned a letter to Pritzker, demanding the governor not cut
hours.
"Governor, this is more than a request that these cuts be
rescinded. Due to the unconscionable severity of your
Administration's proposal, on behalf of those who cannot defend
themselves, their families, and those on the direct lines of
providing service to our developmentally disabled populations,
we demand that you rescind these draconian cuts," Rose's letter
reads.
These homes have had several issues regarding care over the last
several years, which state Rep. Charlie Meier, R-Okwaville, said
will increase if these cuts are made.
"We haven't had quality workers in these homes in the past,
where rapes have occurred, or we find a resident sitting in the
middle of the highway, there are problems all over the board,"
Meier said. "The extra hours and extra workers would be good."
So far, 19 senate Republicans have signed the letter with Rose
to stop the potential cuts, including state Sen. Don Dewitte, R-St.Charles.
"These alarming cuts would affect about 10,000 of our most
vulnerable citizens who rely on their state government for
assistance," said DeWitte. "This equates to an approximate $87.7
million cut in state funding for this population of residents.
It's appalling."
Rose said Pritzker continues to have his focus on the wrong
issues.
"It's very difficult to ignore that you've increased funding for
noncitizens by over a billion dollars across the board,
seemingly while your administration is pushing this rate cut for
the developmentally disabled," Rose said. "It's obvious your
priorities are not with the citizens of this state who are the
most underserved."
The Senate Republicans will meet later this week to discuss the
cuts further.
|
|
