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The plan, which was put on pause by the governor, was to cut 2.5
million service hours for direct support professional workers 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 the
hours.
Rose told The Center Square that he is glad the plan was paused
but is still pushing to remove the cuts for good.
"The governor's office has agreed to pause its implementation of
this in this fiscal year, which is a good step forward," Rose
said. "We want to see this rescinded. A bipartisan group of
legislators wants to see this rescinded because it is wrong."
Rose said lawmakers will work this session on a way to remove
the cut altogether.
"The good news is he hit the pause button on this, and that
gives the legislature, which reconvenes for the spring session
now, the opportunity to move to block this," Rose said.
Rose and others have said cutting these workers' hours could
have serious negative consequences.
"How do you possibly want to cut 2.5 million hours of direct
care to the developmentally disabled?" Rose asked. "Whether it's
basic needs like toileting, showers, things like feeding or
medications, or otherwise, it would be a dangerous decline in
service."
Nineteen lawmakers have signed a letter calling for the governor
to abolish the cuts.
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