It
may be hotter than usual. But it is partisan politics that is causing the
potential for the heat to get the best of us.
I’M
REFERRING TO the measures that Gov. Bruce Rauner said last week would be
essential because of the alleged budget proposal that was put together by the
Democratic leadership of the General Assembly.
That
budget calls for far more spending for government services than the state
expects to have for revenue. The plan’s approval was meant to be a statement to
make Rauner realize how short-sighted he is in persisting with his thoughts
that he will not approve anything that calls for more revenue to be raised.
It
was hoped that Rauner would (as John Belushi’s “Jake Blues” character would
say) “see the light” and come to his senses in approving some sort of revenue
enhancer for the upcoming fiscal year.
Instead,
Rauner is persisting with his talk, and came up with cuts that would balance
what he calls the “phony Madigan-Cullerton budget.”
MUCH
ATTENTION HAS been paid to the fact that the cuts would wipe out the Illiana
Tollway construction, close several state juvenile corrections facilities and
work camps that create jobs in their rural communities, wipe out the state’s
fleet of airplanes AND close all five state-operated museums.
But
Rauner also included the suspension of the state’s contribution to the Low
Income Heating Assistance Energy Program. Come July 1, the program in Illinois
will only exist with the portion of funds provided by the federal government.
 |
| RAUNER: Let them sweat?!? |
That’s
about $170 million. Which sounds like a significant amount of funds. But it
really isn’t.
For
those people who aren’t aware, LIHEAP is a program that offers help to
low-income people in terms of paying their utility bills. It’s a $150 payment
to electric providers on behalf of people who can show a medical condition that
would be improved by air conditioning or heat.
THEY
OFFER HELP during the winter months when the need to have the heat going often
causes the bills to go up. Also needed is help during the summer months when
the need for air conditioning can also cause the utility bill to skyrocket.
 |
| MADIGAN: How will he fight back? |
Because
let’s be honest. Utility bills can be a factor that makes or breaks a person on
a fixed income. It can be an uncertainty that can devastate someone who has to
count every penny of their income – because there just isn’t any additional funds
to be found.
As
a reporter-type person, I have done my fair share of stories about people who
were found dead either because of extreme cold (during the winter) or heat
exhaustion (during the summer).
These
LIHEAP grants try to help people whose physical existence would be at risk by
the weather extremes that can be a life-or-death issue for those with lower
incomes.
NOW
I REALIZE that Rauner’s actions are political rhetoric in-and-of themselves. He’s
trying to scare Dem types into accepting the business-oriented rhetoric he
wants placed in state law by threatening to make these kinds of cuts if they
don’t get with his program.
 |
| BELUSHI (as Blues): Will anyone 'see the light' |
It
may also appeal to those ideologue types who probably view LIHEAP’s existence
as an affront – as though heat and air conditioning is some sort of luxury that
poor people aren’t entitled to.
Now
I don’t doubt that the Illinois Legislature’s leadership, particularly Illinois
House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, is capable of playing political
hard-ball at an equal level. But
let’s be honest – this is the level to which this particular political fight
has the potential to sink. If this cut goes through, somebody is going to have to decide which low-income
people will still get help with their utility bills. As for the rest, they get
nothing.
Or
perhaps the thought process going through certain rather abhorrent political
minds is, “Let them sweat!!!”
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