I read with great interest the May 1 editorial “How to cut Illinois’ budget,” which outlines a variety of plans for generating more than $1 billion in savings by slashing expenditures, without harming the recipients of social services, in an effort to address Illinois’ budget deficit.
The editorial alluded to the ambitious GOP plan unveiled by Senate President James “Pate” Philip (R-Wood Dale) and Sen. Steve Rauschenberger (R-Elgin), which, among other things, would identify new revenue sources to partially restore proposed cuts in Medicaid payments to hospitals, nursing homes and other health-care providers.
These proposals, if acted upon, would be the first step in a process to aid the state’s ailing health-care providers who have been severely impacted by the drastic cuts in Medicaid reimbursements. These cuts are forcing hospitals and other health-care professionals to re-evaluate and possibly eliminate critical programs and services that are beneficial to most Illinois citizens.
Philip and Rauschenberger, along with the Tribune editorial staff, should be commended for their bold proposals for finding an equitable solution to the state’s fiscal crisis, which, at the same time, protects the necessary funding for education and other social services, such as Medicaid. I urge the state legislature to give these ideas serious consideration.
