Caught in the Middle (of the Illinois Budget Impasse)

WBEZ is producing a terrific, powerful series on people “caught in the middle” of the Illinois budget impasse.  These are real people trying to do their jobs and live their lives and the stalemate is making a mess of things for them.

Governor Rauner thinks it’s worth all the pain these folks are having to endure if it gets him “progress” in his crusade to tear down unions.  I think he’s wrong on two counts there.  The real, individual stories bring home – to me, at least – some of the cost of his blinkered intransigence.

Here’s the series so far (check the WBEZ page for more as they put them out):

Sep. 15, 2015

Emily Miller says she has nightmares about looking at spreadsheets of social service organizations that have lost funding in the state budget impasse.

Sep. 10, 2015

Rhonda Rasche won $50,000 playing the lottery, but has filed a lawsuit because she can’t get her money. The Illinois Lottery says it is not authorized to pay out large prizes because the state doesn’t have a spending plan.

Sep. 9, 2015

There are everyday people whose lives are changing as a result of the state’s budget problems. We’re collecting their stories.

Sep. 9, 2015

The state’s Child Care Assistance Program provides subsidies to low-income and working families for daycare. But it’s taken a hit during the impasse, causing some providers to turn away families and lay off staff.

Sep. 9, 2015

Robin Manus works with children who have disabilities through a state program, and she hasn’t been paid in months.

Sep. 8, 2015

Immigrant students learning to speak English at the Albany Park Community Center were told their classes would end two weeks early becuase needed grant money hasn’t been given out by the state of Illinois.