Governor Quinn Vetoes Illinois Doomsday Budget, Lawmakers to Return to Springfield

(Springfield, IL) – Governor Pat Quinn has made good on his promise to veto the Illinois doomsday budget or ‘50% budget’ – SB 1197.

Quinn delivered his veto message this afternoon at his office in Springfield.

“This bill … is a halfway measure that fails to address the dire consequences of the state’s declining revenues, widening deficit, increased demand for critical human services, and the weak U.S. economy,” Quinn wrote to lawmakers.

Governor Pat Quinn vetoed the Illinois doomsday budget yesterday.

Also, shortly before the Governor delivered his veto message, Senate President John Cullerton and House Speaker Michael Madigan announced a joint session of the Illinois Senate and House to:

‘take action on any vetoes, amendatory vetoes, or reduction vetoes by the Governor of legislation related to the budget for Fiscal Year 2010 and (ii) to consider any legislation, pending or otherwise, related in any way to the budget for Fiscal Year 2010, including but not limited to appropriation, budget implementation, or additional revenue resources.’

“While it is unknown what will transpire during the joint session on July 14, it does not change our message to legislators: they work must together with the Governor to find a permanent solution to this budget crisis when they return to Springfield,” said Sara Moscato Howe, CEO of the Illinois Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Association (IADDA).

If they fail, more than 65,000 Illinois residents will struggling to overcome drug or alcohol addiction will lose substance abuse treatment services, Howe noted.

Quinn Joins 5,000 at Capitol Rally as Illinois Doomsday Budget Looms

(Springfield, IL) – Governor Pat Quinn joined more than 5,000 human service supporters, clients, and workers at a rally at the state capitol in Springfield today to protest the looming 50% funding cuts to human service providers under the Illinois General Assembly’s “doomsday” budget that begins on July 1.

Under the “doomsday” budget, Quinn’s administration is warning 65,000 people will lose drug

Doomsday rally in the state capitol today. (Photo posted originally at Capitol Fax Blog)

treatment, 175,000 will lose mental health care, 40,000 seniors will no longer have home healthcare aides, 9,000 foster parents will have their expense reimbursement halved, and more.

“This budget will destroy Illinois’ addiction healthcare system,” said Sara Moscato Howe, CEO of the Illinois Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Association. “Little will remain standing on July 1.”

The fiscal year 2010 state budget is facing a $9.2 billion deficit. Of that amount, $5 billion will cut from community human service providers.

The legislature cut $2.24 billion from the Illinois Department of Human Services, reducing, for example, Division of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse contracts to community services providers by 75%.

Lawmakers are in the state capitol this week mulling over possible options to avoid the human service budget cuts that Quinn has warned are coming without an income tax increase.

“It is absolutely essential that the legislature pass an income tax increase,” said Don Moss, Coordinator of the Illinois Human Services Coalition.

“For the sake of the private nonprofit human service delivery system throughout our state, the alternative, as they say, is too horrible to contemplate.”

The Illinois Human Services Coalition and SEIU joined IADDA as the rally’s co-hosts.

The legislature is in special session this week to grapple with the budget crisis.

IADDA, SEIU, Other Groups to Rally 5,000 against Illinois “Doomsday” Budget at Capitol

(Chicago, IL) – More than 5,000 human service supporters, clients, and workers will rally at the state capitol in Springfield on Tuesday, June 23 to protest the looming 50% funding cuts to human service providers under the Illinois General Assembly’s “doomsday” budget that begins on July 1.

Governor Pat Quinn will address rally participants.

Under the Illinois “doomsday” budget, Quinn’s administration is warning substance abuse prevention and treatment services will witness the elimination of 65,000 people from care, according to Sara Moscato Howe, CEO of the Illinois Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Association (IADDA).

IADDA, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), and the Illinois Human Services Coalition are the rally’s co-hosts.

The rally begins at 11:30 a.m. in the capitol rotunda.

Governor Quinn, Advocates Warn 65,000 Will Lose Illinois Substance Abuse Prevention, Treatment

(Springfield, IL) – The doomsday budget recently approved by the Illinois General Assembly cuts 50% from state human service programs, and Governor Pat Quinn’s administration is warning substance abuse prevention and treatment services will witness the elimination of 65,000 people from care, according to Sara Moscato Howe, CEO of the Illinois Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Association.

Haymarket Executive Vice President and IADDA Board Chair, Anthony Cole, explains the impact of the Illinois doomsday budget on Haymarket clients receiving addiction healthcare services to WBBM/CBS-TV in Chicago:

News Video: Illinois Doomsday Budget Will Cause Crime to Spike, Jails to Fill, IADDA Warns Quinn, Madigan, Cross, Cullerton, and Radogno

(Springfield, IL) — In an interview with WICS/ABC-TV in Springfield, IADDA CEO Sara Moscato Howe warns Governor Pat Quinn, House Speaker Michael Madigan, House Minority Tom Cross, Senate President John Cullerton, and Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno that crime will spike and local jail populations will explode under a doomsday budget that cuts 60% or more of substance abuse prevention and treatment services.

Ron Howell from Recovery Resources in Quincy explains the impact of such drastic cuts on drug treatment would have in Adams County during a WGEM-TV interview.

more about “News Video: IADDA Says Crime Will Spi…“, posted with vodpod

Illinois ‘Doomsday’ Budget Slashes Drug Treatment for 65,000 Residents; Madigan, Cullerton, Cross, Radogno, and Quinn Urged to “Get Back to Work”

(Springfield, IL) – Illinois’ addiction prevention and treatment advocates today denounced the ‘doomsday’ budget approved by the Illinois legislature on Sunday, saying it will slash drug treatment for more than 65,000 Illinois residents starting on July 1, 2009.

“This budget will destroy Illinois’ addiction healthcare system,” said Sara

Sara Moscato Howe, CEO, IADDA

Moscato Howe, CEO of the Illinois Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Association. “Little will remain standing on July 1.”

The legislature’s ‘doomsday’ budget—a spending plan without Governor Pat Quinn’s proposed income tax increase—guts both the Division of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse budget for community treatment providers and funds for addiction prevention for community prevention providers, a total of nearly $84 million.

The ‘doomsday’ budget will eliminate drug treatment services for 65,000 currently served by state-financed community providers across Illinois, Howe estimates.

Currently, untreated addiction costs the State of Illinois over $3 billion a year. Increases in health insurance rates, incarceration of non-violent drug offenders, domestic violence, on-the-job accidents, lost worker productivity, school drop-out rates, teen pregnancy, and traffic accidents and fatalities are all attributable to untreated addiction, says Howe.

“Crime rates, domestic violence incidents, and traffic accidents will explode across Illinois,” said Howe.

“We urge Speaker Michael Madigan, Minority Leader Tom Cross, Senate President John Cullerton, Minority Leader Christine Radogno and Governor Quinn to go back to work and to approve an income tax increase to restore the $84 million to the addiction healthcare system and not unleash a doomsday that will decimate Illinois communities.”

New Reports Reveal Chicago Tops Nation in Arrestee Drug Use; Illinois Drug Treatment Spending Paltry

(Springfield, IL) – Chicago leads the nation in illicit drug use among arrestees, with 87% testing positive for drugs, according to a new report.

The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, which made the data public today, reports heroin use in Chicago leapt 45% in one year, and Chicago is the number one city in heroin use among arrestees.

Positive heroin tests jumped 45% from 20% of arrestees in 2007 to 29% -nearly a third of arrestees-in 2008.

And Chicago leads the nation in arrestees-40%-testing positive for more than one drug.

“Illinois’ drug problem is worsening and state government is failing to adequately fund criminal justice drug treatment,” said Melody Heaps, president of Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities (TASC, Inc.). “Governor Pat Quinn and legislative leaders must fully fund treatment to stop the spiraling cycle of drug use and crime.”

In addition to the new White House report, the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University has also released a new study that shows Illinois spends $4.8 billion annually on the consequences of addiction, e.g. prisons and emergency care. However, it spends only a paltry $179 million or 4% on prevention and treatment.

“In the face of escalating crime-related drug use in Chicago, Governor Quinn’s proposed state budget cuts drug prevention and treatment by $13 million and leaves an additional $53 million budget hole, which will only worsen Illinois’ drug problem,” said Sara Moscato Howe, CEO of the Illinois Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Association.

State Representative Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) is sponsoring legislation, HB 4557, to increase the state alcohol tax by a nickel-a-drink, raising $254 million annually, to provide a reliable revenue stream to state addiction health care services.

The Feigenholtz bill is one of many revenue raising proposals still on the table as lawmakers debate the final state budget.

The legislature is scheduled to adjourn on May 31.

YouTube: IADDA Pushes for 5¢-a-Drink Alcohol Tax Increase in Illinois

(Springfield, IL) — Illinois leading addiction prevention, treatment and mental health advocates today unveiled legislation at a Springfield press conference that increases the states alcohol tax by nickel a drink to help fund state human services and reduce drinking.

The bill, HB 4557, sponsored by State Representative Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago), would raise $254 million for cash-strapped Illinois and boost addiction healthcare services by $140 million and mental health care services by $92 million and the remaining $22 million would be deposited in the states general revenue fund—its daily checkbook.

A nickel-a-drink increase will raise $254 million to help offset the state budget deficit and provide critical investments to addiction healthcare services, said Sara Moscato Howe, CEO of the Illinois Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Association (IADDA).

Quinn ‘Doomsday’ Budget Will Eliminate Addiction Healthcare for 355,071 Residents across Illinois

(Springfield, IL) – Illinois’ alcohol and drug prevention and treatment advocates today denounced Governor Pat Quinn’s ‘doomsday’ budget, saying it will slash drug prevention and treatment for more than 355,000 Illinois residents starting on July 1, 2009.

“This budget will destroy Illinois’ addiction healthcare system,” said Sara Moscato Howe, CEO of the Illinois Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Association. “Little will remain standing on July 1.”

Governor Pat Quinn

Quinn’s newly unveiled ‘doomsday’ budget—a spending plan without the Governor’s proposed income tax increase—eliminates both the Division of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse budget for community treatment providers and all funds for  addiction prevention for community prevention providers, a total loss of $170 million.

Quinn’s ‘doomsday’ budget will eliminate drug treatment services for 98,000 currently served by state-financed community providers across Illinois, Howe estimates.

“Cuts of this magnitude will eliminate services for more than 51,000 in Cook County alone,” said Howe.

Currently, untreated addiction costs the State of Illinois $3 billion a year. Increases in health insurance rates, incarceration of non-violent drug offenders, domestic violence, on-the-job accidents, lost worker productivity, school drop-out rates, teen pregnancy, and traffic accidents and fatalities are all attributable to untreated addiction, says Howe.

“Crime rates, domestic violence incidents, and traffic accidents will explode across Illinois,” said Howe.

Additionally, the state’s community-based prevention system will be completely eliminated.

“Currently, our statewide substance abuse prevention system serves 257,071 youth ages 12 to 17,” said Howe. “Under this budget, every community-based addiction prevention provider will close.”

“We urge the Speaker Micheal Madigan, Minority Leader Tom Cross, Senate President John Cullerton, and Minority Leader Christine Radogno and Governor Quinn to approve an income tax increase to restore the $170 million to the addiction healthcare system and not unleash a doomsday that will decimate Illinois communities.”

News Video: Feigenholtz Pushes 5¢ a Drink Alcohol Tax Increase

(Springfield, IL) – Illinois’ leading addiction prevention, treatment and mental health advocates today unveiled legislation at a Springfield press conference that increases the state’s alcohol tax by nickel a drink to help fund state human services and reduce drinking.

State Rep. Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago)

The bill, HB 4557, sponsored by State Representative Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago), would raise $254 million for cash-strapped Illinois and boost addiction healthcare services by $140 million and mental health care services by $92 million and the remaining $22 million would be deposited in the state’s general revenue fund—its daily checkbook.

“A nickel-a-drink increase will raise $254 million to help offset the state budget deficit and provide critical investments to addiction healthcare services,” said Sara Moscato Howe, CEO of the Illinois Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Association (IADDA).

Watch news video report from WAND-TV Ch. 17 (NBC) of Springfield. WLS-TV Ch. 7 (ABC) of Chicago has a brief story. And WTVW-Fox 7 of Evansville, Indiana carries a piece. And from the Chicagoist.