As Bruce Rauner and allies such as Republican State Rep. Michael McAuliffe continue their brick-by-brick teardown of social services in Illinois, 20th House District candidate Merry Marwig spent a day walking in the shoes of a Norridge home healthcare worker for a day, experiencing firsthand the challenges that home healthcare workers face each and every day.
The insight she gained strengthened Marwig’s understanding of the important role home healthcare plays for tens of thousands of seniors and people with disabilities who face forced institutionalization under Rauner’s policies.
Home healthcare worker Prudenza Kalpedis, who provides daily care for her severely disabled sister, Veronica Dattomo, was impressed both by Marwig’s interest in her work, and her willingness to actually try her hand at it.
“It means so much to have a candidate for office come and take the time to see how the governor’s policies are hurting people like me and my sister, Veronica. Our State Representative Michael McAuliffe doesn’t seem to be concerned and neither does Governor Rauner, and that’s why I’m voting for Merry Marwig this November. There’s too much at stake for caregivers and people with disabilities.”
In contrast, Marwig’s opponent McAuliffe has sat idly by as Rauner illegally imposed rules to cap overtime hours for more than 8,000 people with disabilities and their caregivers. And he has been equally silent about Rauner’s proposed $200 million cuts to the Community Care Program, a move that could force more than 44,000 seniors into costlier institutional care.
Marwig is an outspoken advocate for seniors and has earned the endorsement of SEIU Healthcare Illinois.