Alton Press:

Alton Telegraph: Outcry over area service cuts: Importance of home care, child care services stressed at East Alton rally

Bernice Kenshalo said home care services saved her life.

After being found in a diabetic coma, Kenshalo had to learn many basic skills — how to walk, feed herself, drink from a cup — all over again. She still doesn’t have the quality of life of others, but with the help of a home care provider she has begun the rehabilitation process.

Kenshalo was one of a handful of care providers and receivers Thursday who protested Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner’s proposed cuts to home and child care services. The protest, held outside the Department of Human Services office at 608 W. St. Louis Ave. in East Alton, was one of six held across the state Thursday to oppose the cuts. Service Employees International Union (SEIU), a labor union representing nearly 1.9 million workers in over 100 occupations in the United States and Canada, organized the protests, with others being held in Chicago, Harvey, Peoria, Springfield and Marion, Ill.

Kenshalo said if Rauner’s proposed budget, which includes cuts of more than $500 million in funding for DHS programs, goes through, her life will again be in danger.

“That’s going to kill me, because I won’t be cared for,” Kenshalo said. “He needs to realize what he’s doing to us.”

Read the full article here. 

 

KMOV Channel 4

 

Peoria Press:

WYZZ Channel 43

 

Peoria Public Radio: Area residents, workers protest looming state cuts

Area residents and child care providers are calling on Governor Rauner to protect funding amid looming cuts.  East Peoria resident Erica Atherton says her daughter has a genetic disorder that requires a wheelchair. She says they’ve been waiting nine months for a new wheelchair due to frozen Medicaid payments:

“There’s things that they can take money from.  Why does it have to be education, why does it have to be the special needs? They go through enough.”

Listen to the full story here.

 

WMBC Channel 31: Moms, Child Care Supporters Protest Budget Cuts

Child care providers across the state are taking a stand against Governor Rauner and budget cuts against the Child Care Assistance program. Protesters say the move would force many parents to work in fear or worse, to lose their jobs.

The program helps low-income working parents pay for some or all of their day care costs. The governor wants to slash it by 20 percent which would cause a giant ripple effect for Annette Edwards.

Edwards cares for three children on a regular basis. The kid’s mother works a minimum wage job and depends on child care assistance subsidies.
Edwards says cuts to the program would be catastrophic.

“Which would then affect these children, either they would have to stay home alone because I have a five-year-old. Or she would have to quit her job to care for her kids,” Edwards said.

It’s a scenario she and countless others fear is possible under the proposed budget.

“I just want to say that I am woman and I am a mother,” said Gloria Artis. “And you are making it hard for women to feed their babies.”

Watch the full segment here.

 

Springfield Press:

WCIA Channel 3: Women join the ranks in statewide protests

The state’s budget battle continues and Thursday, women took to the state Capitol. They’re worried about Governor Bruce Rauner’s proposed cuts.

Women from all over the state rallied to convince Governor Rauner to reverse course on some of phis proposed policies. They say many will have more impact on women than men.

Gail Hamilton says she has worked hard throughout her life; even working three jobs just to get by.

“It was three part-time jobs. It was part-time jobs that allowed me to take care of people who are very near and dear.”

But, she says, what makes her upset is knowing the governor’s proposals affect her negatively as well as several other women.

“Going to rip holes through home care workers. It’s going to rip holes through the vital services of our seniors need, our disabled needs.”

Several advocates, especially women rallied across the state, making a stop right here in Central Illinois. Whether it’s proposals to slash home care and child care services, women like Hamilton say they are telling the governor “No.”

Watch the full segment here. 

 

Marion Press:

WPSD Channel 6