Illinois Disability Groups Speak Out Against Budget Cuts

(Springfield) — Social service groups that depend on money from the state of Illinois are striking out against the budget plan they say will lead to unjustifiable cuts. Disability groups in central Illinois say tens of thousands of families and people will lose vital services. 

Groups learned the extent of the proposed cuts last week in letters sent out at the request of Governor Pat Quinn.

Those letters included cuts of up to 50-percent for some providers.

Many disability providers are now contacting their clients and telling them to send a message to lawmakers still wrestling over budget cuts.

Carlissa Puckett with the disability group Sparc says her organization will lose more than half a million dollars.

Puckett says that will be reflected in real people, not just numbers.

She says she doesn’t know where people who depend on disability will go because so many support groups are looking at cuts.

Joseph Nyre with the Hope Institute says 16-thousand families from Rockford to Carbondale will lose services.

Nyre says his group is trying to come up with an ethical response to unethical cuts.

Lawmakers are expected to come back to Springfield next week to go over the state budget.

The main alternative to cuts to disability and other service groups is an income tax increase that many are reluctant to pass in tough economic times.

(Copyright 2009 by Newsroom Solutions)

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