November 9, 2010

No "either/or" budget options

The size of Illinois’ revenue shortfall represents “a problem that’s just too big to solve with any one approach,” said national budget expert Jon Shure. “We’re way beyond ‘either/or’ choices ... (and) a cuts-only approach is like saying to someone at the bottom of a hole, ‘Here’s a shovel,’ when they really need a ladder.”  While some level of cuts likely will remain in place for some time to come, he said, the addition of new revenues is necessary to provide balance in restoring stability and shoring-up economic recovery. Shure is deputy director of the State Fiscal Project at the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities in Washington, D.C., and spoke during a recent economic summit in Chicago.  Voices’ Budget and Tax Policy Initiative is a member of the State Fiscal Analysis Initiative network. 

Illinois tops in unpaid bills for vital services

Human-service providers are more troubled by state-payment delays in Illinois than elsewhere in the country, a new national survey finds.  About 72 percent of providers polled by the Urban Institute reported late payments, compared with a national average of only 41 percent.  Illinois also posted the nation’s highest percentage of providers who’ve frozen or cut salaries (65 percent), as well as those who’ve borrowed or increased credit lines (42 percent), as ways of dealing with unpaid bills.  These moves have increased private- and public-sector layoffs and underemployment while slashing vital services that kids and families need for stability.  All told, Illinois’ late payments to schools and service providers totals about $6 billion.

Business Invests in Early Childhood Education

PNC Bank, a new corporate partner in Chicago, has put its stake in the ground with its Grow Up Great initiative focusing on school readiness.  Grow Up Great takes advantage of Chicago’s world-class science institutions—Adler Planetarium, Field Museum, Museum of Science and Industry, and Shedd Aquarium. The partners, which are receiving $3 million from PNC, will establish new programs in science for preschoolers, provide professional development in teaching science for preschool teachers, and engage parents through participation in classroom activities and family visits to the partner institutions. This project is expected to serve over 1,000 preschoolers and their families. 

Voices congratulates PNC as a continuing partner in helping every Illinois child grow up prepared to succeed in the global economy.  For more information visit pncgrowupgreat.com.

Joe Gregoire (left), the president of Illinois banking for PNC, poses with Rosita (right) at the Chicago launch
of the Grow Up Great Program.

The Illinois Mental Health Partnership's 2010 Report to the Governor

The Illinois Children’s Mental Health Partnership (ICMHP) recently released the fifth Annual Report to the Governor on implementation of the Strategic Plan for Building a Comprehensive Children’s Mental Health System in Illinois. Despite the current challenging fiscal environment, the Partnership and its member agencies and organizations are demonstrating that innovative approaches to mental health are possible and essential to Illinois children and their families. For more information please contact Dawn Melchiorre or visit www.ICMHP.org

FEATURED EVENTS:

Voices for Illinois Children's Associates Board  Event

You have voiced your choice at the polls; now join us for an evening of networking and discussion about the results of the elections.  At this Voices Around Town event, learn from a panel of experts how Election Day outcomes could affect children, their families and the essential services they need at the state and federal levels.  The panel will also preview Chicago’s upcoming mayoral race and what it could mean for vital programs in that city.

Click here to register for this event.

Attend the final education budget hearings

We've done our part in providing testimony to the Illinois State Budget Education officials; and we urge you to join fellow advocates in helping to shape 2012 budget priorities for children's learning.  ISBE is holding its final two hearings November 15 and the 30, providing the chance to express your support for vital programs such as early childhood, mental health and bilingual programs.  Drastic cuts have already been made to these and other important priorities; don't miss this opportunity to tell Illinois leaders to strengthen investments for kids' learning and development by protecting these programs from futher, damaging cuts. 

For the hearing schedule details and contact information for help in preparing for the ISBE hearings, visit our events page.

Responsible Budget Coalition Lobby Day

Legislators return to the state capitol this month, providing an important opportunity to call for responsible, balanced budget solutions that will preserve education, health and human services on which our kids and families depend.  Join the Responsible Budget Coalition for Springfield rally days on Nov. 17 and 30. 

This opportunity is particularly intended for leaders who don’t typically make the trip to Springfield to attend.  Examples include:

• Executive directors, presidents and board chairs of organizations
• Local elected officials
• Officials of educational institutions
• Clergy of large churches
• Parent leaders
• Civic leaders

For more information or to RSVP, contact Jen Weisensee at jen@citizenaction-il.org or (312) 427-2114 x211.  We also encourage you to pass this flyer on.