Hoffman Estates residents blast state budget cuts
The pleas came in the forms of letters from children and testimonies from mayors and school officials.
They didn't care if Gov. Rod Blagojevich favored his political allies when determining what to cut from the state's budget; those testifying Tuesday at the regional budget hearing in Hoffman Estates just wanted their money -- whether it be for a cricket field, art programs, a nature center or for senior programs -- restored.
Char Rivette, of Little City Foundation in Palatine, echoed many of those speaking, supporting services for the disabled and mentally ill. She said the cuts targeted the state's most vulnerable.
"I'm angry today. I'm angry because I feel the governor is letting us down at this point," she said.
The governor used his veto pen to slash $463 million in projects and programs last month to the chagrin of several lawmakers, including House Speaker Michael Madigan. When Madigan announced the 19 hearings taking place statewide, the Chicago Democrat said he hoped to "put a human face" on the governor's "savage cuts."
Recent downstate hearings have featured enraged local elected officials decrying the governor's move and describing the potential negative impact on their communities.
That outrage continued Tuesday at the Hoffman Estates village hall. But state Rep. Fred Crespo hoped the discussion would be civil and productive.
"We're not here to bash the governor. We're not here to bash anyone," he said.
More than 150 attended and more than 35 testified. State Reps. Paul Froehlich, Sidney Mathias, Beth Coulson and Ruth Munson were also part of the bipartisan panel.
The governor's camp maintains the cuts were all pork and weren't political. It said health care was given a priority in the budget, and that the cuts eliminated projects like improvements to an outdoor volleyball court, that "had little to do with the core mission of state government."
Department of Health care and Family Services Director Barry Maram said if money is diverted from health care, middle-class workers will suffer. He said the governor is willing to listen and repeatedly said the cuts weren't part of a "zero-sum game."
"This is all about priorities," Maram said.
The spending was put in the budget as part of a deal by legislative leaders, a deal that excludes Blagojevich. Initially, the leaders said they would stick together and override any cuts. But then state Sen. President Emil Jones Jr., a Chicago Democrat, said Madigan and Republicans double-crossed him and he's split from them, recently stating that he'll use his power to uphold the governor's cuts.
People like Reed Sander, of the Illinois Coalition of Nonpublic Schools, complained about unfunded state mandates, such as requiring background checks for school employees. Sander said a $14 million cut handcuffs schools.
"All those things we need to do, and we should be required to do them," he said.
But not everyone was against overriding the veto -- two supported the governor.
"You're going to see more and more people on the streets that cannot get the (health care) services they need," said Lenora Scruggs, of the Northwest Suburban Chapter of Operation PUSH.
The governor's office called Tuesday's hearing a "gross exaggeration," and said the vetoes represent less than a one percent cut to a $50 billion budget.
Regardless, the House is expected back at the Capitol next month and leaders have said they'll push forward with trying to restore funding for the projects and programs Blagojevich axed.