Rauner threatens facility closures, service cuts for child care and elderly

Gov. Bruce Rauner escalated his budget strong-arm tactics on Tuesday when he announced closures and service cuts aimed at forcing lawmakers to back an anti-worker agenda that has so far failed to make headway in Springfield.

The governor’s office announced plans to close DOC’s Hardin County Work Camp, along with “one or two” DJJ facilities and five state museums – a process that could potentially eliminate hundreds of jobs.

Rauner also wants to make low-income parents pay more for child care, restrict access to programs that help seniors live at home and suspend funding that helps struggling families keep up with energy bills.

The governor has already indicated that he will not consider revenue increases to close the state’s budget deficit unless the General Assembly passes an anti-worker agenda that would weaken unions and lower the standard of living for middle-class families.

More revenue is essential to prevent devastating cuts and closures following the rollback of income tax rates that took effect January 1.

“The governor should work with lawmakers to fairly fund public services for all Illinoisans, not threaten cuts to seniors, working families and public safety, or jeopardize adult and youth corrections, the educational mission of state museums, and potentially hundreds of good union jobs,” Council 31 spokesman Anders Lindall told the Chicago Tribune. “This senseless crisis is caused by reduced tax rates that Governor Rauner pushed for as a candidate, chiefly benefiting the wealthy few.”