By Andy Dahn
BLOOMINGTON – Illinois is currently in its eighth month without a budget. Spokesman for the Responsible Budget Coalition Neal Waltmire said the idea that state lawmakers won’t agree on a budget by the end of the session on May 31 is a very scary one.
“That means more college students will drop out of college,” Waltmire said. “I saw that 1,000 students at SIU did not return. So we’ll have more people dropping out of college. We’ll also have more people that are struggling with substance abuse not get the help that they need. There’s now a heroin epidemic happening across Illinois.”
Waltmire said the trouble doesn’t end there. He adds children involved in after school programs and the disabled as groups that will pay the price if the budget impasse continues. As for Rauner’s address this past week, Waltmire said he wasn’t impressed.
“The Governor essentially said the budget stalemate that fails families, communities and the economy will continue,” said Waltmire. “He said that vital services that help our communities are not a priority until his agenda items are passed.”
Andy Dahn can be reached at andy.dahn@cumulus.com.
