Greg Kelley, President of SEIU Healthcare Illinois, issued the following statement in response to Governor JB Pritzker’s budget address:

Illinois is positioned at a crossroads, facing a historic choice that calls upon us to be the state we aspire to be. In his budget address today, the Governor displayed the leadership he has modeled in recent weeks, calmly declaring that in the face of escalating attacks coming out of Washington, Illinois is choosing the path of unity.  

Governor Pritzker’s budget address today gives us a stark look at the challenges ahead. While we appreciate the balanced approach the Governor has taken in this budget and his commitment to senior care, it is clear that we must secure additional revenue by asking the wealthy to pay their fair share to fully fund the programs that protect our most vulnerable Illinoisans and the people who provide their care, including the Community Care Program for seniors. 

This is especially true at a time when the Trump/Musk administration and Congressional Republicans attempt to eliminate critical funding for Medicaid and other safety net programs. 

Over the past several years, Governor Pritzker and the General Assembly have taken positive steps to invest in care services so many Illinoisans depend upon. Today, we ask our leaders to double down on these investments, in particular in home care for seniors and its workforce.  

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