Commentary

The Responsible Budget Coalition: Temporary Budget Fails to Fund Critical Services


Springfield, IL –(ENEWSPF)—July 9, 2015. The Responsible Budget Coalition released the following statement in response to the General Assembly’s anticipated passage of a one-month budget measure:

The one-month budget measure fails to provide the stability that service providers, businesses, families, communities, and our economy need to prosper.

The proposal fails to fund many services that are critical to families and communities, such as after-school programs for kids and services for people with HIV and those who may become homeless. It also neglects to fund vital state operations – like the Department of Revenue – which are necessary for daily government functions and services.

Even if this measure is signed into law, service providers will have to close their doors and state agencies will be forced to cut vital services for families.

Our leaders need to recognize that families and communities are more than line items that they can pick and choose from. The only real choice to make is how to raise the revenue we need to invest in our future.

The Governor and the General Assembly need to immediately end this senseless crisis by passing a fully funded, year-long budget. 

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The Responsible Budget Coalition (RBC) is a large and diverse coalition of approximately 200 organizations concerned about state budget and tax issues. It includes organizations that serve children, families, veterans, seniors and people with disabilities; education groups concerned about early learning, K-12 and higher education; labor unions; faith-based and civic organizations; and many others.

The individual organizations that belong to the RBC represent a diverse range of interests but are united by these three common principles:

Adequate revenue to support state priorities and make smart investments

No more cuts to vital programs and services

Fairness in raising revenue and making any cuts caused by failure to raise adequate revenue

Source: Responsible Budget Coalition

 


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