Illinois Works for the Future

Lawmakers Pass Irresponsible State Budget Package

Jen — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 14:22:30 +0000

The General Assembly left Springfield May28th, after passing a budget giving lump sum appropriations to each state agency and an additional lump sum appropriation to the Governor to distribute at his discretion. They also passed the Emergency Budget Act which gives the Governor the power to make changes to contracts, eligibility standards, and programs until January 2011. This act also extends the time period of “lapsed spending” from August 31 to December 31 so that some FY10 bills will not be paid until the end of the year, and requires that FY11 bills are paid only after prior bills are paid.

The General Assembly FAILED to pass measures to generate the significant revenue it needs to pay for what it is outlined in the budget, such as the pension borrowing bill or tax increases such as those outlined in HB 174 . The only new revenue involves one-time sources of funding that will go away next year.

This results in increasing uncertainty about funding levels, contracts and payments for those relying on state funding. The Governor, the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget, and the Department Heads now need to make decisions about where the lump sum appropriations should go, and since there is not adequate revenue, this means more cuts to programs and delays to try and fill the gap.

There is a possibility that the Senate will still call the pension borrowing bill for a vote in the next few weeks, and measures for new revenue may be considered in the fall after the elections.

It is important that we continue to communicate to legislators the serious negative impact this budget has on services to those most in need. They need to understand the urgency to make the necessary changes to craft a more responsible budget with revenue needed to provide services vital families and communities throughout our state.

THE WINDOW IS STILL OPEN FOR A RESPONSIBLE BUDGET

Jen — Wed, 12 May 2010 16:26:41 +0000

As thousands of phone calls and emails flooded the statehouse last week calling for a responsible budget, the General Assembly left Springfield unwilling to agree on a series of irresponsible funding measures. This has at least temporarily averted approval of a budget that hurts education, health and human services, eliminates jobs and cuts supports for workers and job seekers.

We must ensure that policymakers now take-up the only responsible option for mitigating harmful cuts in schools and human services, paying our bills and putting our state back on track to stability: the revenue framework of House Bill 174.

TAKE ACTION THIS WEEK

Legislators are back home in their district offices, and we need to use this window of opportunity to tell them about the need to approve more adequate revenues to avoid devastating cuts in many essential public services.

Call your legislators, using this toll-free number: 1-800-719-3020 (thanks to the Illinois AARP for generously providing phone lines). Tell lawmakers, “Raise the new revenues needed to prevent devastating cuts in vital public services. Approve the revenue framework of House Bill 174.”

Visit your legislators in their district offices, letting them know their constituents are paying attention and are asking them to pass a responsible budget.

Write to your legislators, using the Responsible Budget Coalition’s new email tool.

Contact Jennifer Becker Mouhcine for more information or any assistance you may need to make sure your voice is heard before legislators return to Springfield.

UPDATE on Child Care Education and Training Budget

Jen — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 19:47:31 +0000

Last week, IDHS made a commitment to not reduce services as of July 1^st 2010, as was originally suggested in the proposed budget released March 10^th. Instead, due to declining caseloads and cost containment measures happening within the Child Care Assistance Program, they intend to maintain current service levels within a reduced appropriation, which would leave the child care services for those enrolled in education and training intact.

Thanks for any support you were able to show on this issue!

TAKE ACTION NOW to Maintain Access to Education and Training for Low-Income Parents

Jen — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 18:46:01 +0000

Please share this important message with the Governor, the Illinois Department of Human Services and your local elected officials.

THE CONCERN: The Governor’s proposed budget would eliminate access to IDHS’ Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) for 75% of low-income parents involved in education and training activities. This will prevent low-income parents throughout Illinois from building their earning capacity, escaping poverty, and providing a brighter future for their families.

THE FACTS: Currently, low-income parents engaged in a vocational training, GED preparation, English as a Second Language (ESL), Adult Basic Education (ABE), or 2- and 4-year college degree programs are eligible for financial assistance to help provide care for their children while they’re in classes. Research continues to confirm that educational attainment remains the most effective way to increase a family’s income:

On average, a high school diploma raises a young working mother’s income by 26%
An Associate’s Degree increases that mother’s earnings by another 28%
With a Bachelor’s Degree, she will earn 75% more than with just a high school diploma
Minority women are much less likely to have completed higher education

THE RISK: A change in this policy will have dire consequences for Illinois families. This proposal ignores the state’s commitment to college and career readiness for ALL students, and its stated priority that up to 2 years of post-secondary education or training be available to all citizens in this State. The teen parent struggling to stay in high school, the immigrant mother enrolled in ESL classes, and the low-wage worker trying to attend classes at the community college all depend on this assistance to ensure their kids are cared for while they fulfill their own educational potential. These parents, striving to provide more for their children, represent the potential for a robust economy in Illinois. State-assisted child care for these families strengthens our hopes of building a more educated, better-trained workforce who will end up contributing to a stronger tax base.

This funding cut will also cause Illinois to forfeit $74 million in federal ARRA funding, since cutting child care funding below FY09 spending levels violates ARRA’s non-supplantation requirement.

If we are truly committed to supporting a system that prepares all students for a successful academic and professional career, we cannot deny parents involved in education and training the child care assistance that they need.

TAKE ACTION:

Contact Governor Quinn, IDHS Secretary Saddler and your state senator and representative about the proposed CCAP cuts. (contact information follows below)
- Inform them of this proposed cut and let them know a change in this policy will have dire consequences for Illinois families.
- Tell them how important education and training is for parents to gain the skills needed in today’s workforce, especially in the midst of the recession. Remind them that this proposal ignores the state’s commitment to college and career readiness for ALL students.
- Make sure they realize that this funding cut will also cause Illinois to forfeit $74 million in federal ARRA (stimulus/recovery) funding, since cutting child care funding below FY09 spending levels violates ARRA’s non-supplantation requirement.

Governor Quinn

Office of the Governor
207 State House
Springfield, IL 62706
Phone: 217-782-0244
TTY: 888-261-3336

Secretary Michelle Saddler

401 South Clinton Street
Chicago, Illinois 60607
(800) 843-6154

Click here to find your state representative and senator

For more information or assistance in contacting your elected officials, contact Jennifer Becker Mouhcine at 312-252-0460 ext 301, or by emailing jmouhcine@cjc.net.

IWF Review Of Governor’s Budget Proposal

Jen — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 20:03:16 +0000

Last week, Governor Quinn presented his budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year. While the proposed budget seems to have spared most workforce programs from budget cuts and we are encouraged by the Governor’s support of these programs, many support services needed for individuals to secure and maintain employment will be dramatically reduced if this budget stands.

Our state is facing a 13 billion dollar budget deficit. Illinois communities are already hurting from the failure of legislators to stop damaging cuts and delayed payments to education, human services, public safety and more. This budget would result in the loss of tens of thousands of jobs, counter-acting any job creation efforts underway in Illinois. Rather than slash jobs just as our economy begins to rebound, and reduce vital services when they’re needed more than ever, lawmakers should reform the state’s tax structure and finally fix the broken budget.

What You Can Do

Contact your state representative and senator. Call their office registering your concerns or set up a meeting while they are home in their districts over spring break. To find out who your elected officials are click here.
- Ask them to maintain the level of funding proposed under Quinn’s budget for job training and workforce development programs.
- Let them know about the dire consequences of cutting human services and education at a time of record unemployment, when families need these safety nets and work supports more than ever.
- Urge them to take a balanced approach to addressing our budget crisis that includes adequate revenue to fund all our essential priorities–not just education but health care, human services, public safety and more.

Participate in the Responsible Budget Coalition, which is united around opposition to damaging cuts and shared support for comprehensive tax reform such as House Bill 174. Plan to participate April 21st in a large statewide rally on the budget crisis.

Key Workforce and Related Budget Items

Proposed Increases or Level Funding

Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s (DCEO) “Job Training Programs” line item is proposed at $15,000,000, an increase of 17% from last year’s appropriation. This line item contains the Employment Opportunities Grant Program (EOGP), the Employer Training Investment Program (ETIP) and the Job Training and Economic Development program (JTED), among others.
“Grants for Organizations related to Workforce and Economic Development”, also in DCEO’s budget, would be level-funded at $5,000.0000 for fund-specific grant-making, and Career and Technical Education Grants to Colleges out of the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) budget would also see no change from last year.

Proposed Reductions

Adult Education Grants in the Illinois Community College Board budget were reduced 8%, from $25,000,000 in last years’ budget to $23,000,000 proposed for this year. These grants assist those who lack basic educational skills (including reading, numeracy, and English language skills), do not have a high school diploma or GED, or who lack literacy in English.
The proposed Department of Human Services budget includes a $24 million cut (more than 75%) to the Child Care Assistance Program’s non-TANF education and training eligibility category. This program has enabled thousands of low-income parents, primarily single mothers, to escape dead-end jobs and poverty by getting the education and training they need to earn family-supporting wages and provide a better life for their families.
Other damaging cuts to Human Services include
- Child Care programs reduced nearly 10%
- Community Mental Health programs cut 44%
- Domestic Violence shelters cut over 9%
The proposed budget would reduce the State Board of Education’s budget by 16% or $1.2 billion, drastically impacting K-12 education, including layoffs of 17,000 teachers.

Contact us for more information on these items, for assistance with legislative calls or visits, and other opportunities to take action.

IWF Springfield Forum

Jen — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 19:43:30 +0000

IWF is co-sponsoring a Community Forum on Workforce and Economic Development with the Land of Lincoln Workforce Alliance, Lincoln Land Community College, the City of Springfield, The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce, Heartland Continuum of Care, Springfield Community Federation, Tower of Refuge, and the Springfield Urban League.

Community Leaders from the Springfield area will be attending this event at Lincoln Land Community College on March 25th to discuss:

Strategies for short and long-term workforce and economic development in the Springfield area
Challenges, gaps, and opportunities to developing a quality workforce and job creation
Potential policy recommendations for state and local policymakers
Future opportunities for local job training and education plans

The Illinois Works for the Future Campaign will gather information from this forum and develop our advocacy priorities, along with finding from similar forums around the state.

Media Coverage – Decatur Community Meeting

andres — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 21:27:24 +0000

Please visit the following links to news coverage related to the November 19 Decatur Community Meeting:

“Community brainstorms job ideas in light of dour employment forecast.” by Theresa Churchill, Herald & Review, November 20, 2009.

“Join brainstorming session to benefit local economy.” by Theresa Churchill, Herald & Review, November 9, 2009.

“Leaders to discuss community priorities.” by Theresa Churchill, Herald & Review, November 4, 2009.

Media Coverage – Rockford Community Meeting

andres — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:50:53 +0000

Please visit the following links to news coverage related to the September 23 Rockford Community Meeting:

“Leaders: Stronger education in Rockford leads to better jobs.” by Sean F. Driscoll, BusinessRockford.com, September 23, 2009

“Your ideas needed on fixing economy.” by Ralph Martire, Rockford Register Star, September 19, 2009.

“Views on local job needs wanted”. by Sean F. Driscoll, BusinessRockford.com, September 14, 2009.

UPDATE: 21st Century Workforce Development Fund

andres — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:44:30 +0000

House Bill 852 went into law in August. While no funding has been provided for the fund, the Illinois Works for the Future campaign will build on the broad based legislative support and advocate for new resources in the upcoming months.

Click here for a link to the full legislation or contact Carrie Thomas (carrie@cjc.net) for a bill summary.

IWF Calls on Governor Pat Quinn to Sign HB 852

Jen — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 16:23:15 +0000

The Illinois Works for the Future Campaign calls on Governor Pat Quinn to sign HB 852 creating the 21st Century Workforce Fund. This bill sets up the structure for a fund (that could receive funds from a number of sources, but currently is unfunded) that prioritizes support in order to place hard-to-employ workers into low-skill jobs in the green economy. This includes (but is not limited to) jobs in energy efficiency, recycling, urban farming, sustainable landscaping, and manufacturing for alternative energy.

This bill passed with overwhelming support in both the House and the Senate, and creates a fund with transparency, oversight and accountability. A 21-member Advisory Committee is charged with reviewing, advising and making recommendations to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity about grant applications.

We are calling on the Governor to sign this bill into law. While there is no money in the bill at present, this fund will be able to be used flexibly by communities to address the specific needs for job training in green jobs and in industries with critical skills shortages, and provide support to get those with barriers to employment into the work place.