Seniors Greet Returning Legislators With Call To Pass Responsible Budget

Community Care, Drug Assistance Programs Threatened by Cuts

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., May 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As legislators got back into their Capitol offices today, hundreds of calls from older Illinoisans were waiting for them, with a clear and urgent message: pass a Responsible Budget, and fix the fiscal mess that threatens to cut critical programs and services without providing the fair revenue the state needs.

"It's time to demand responsibility and honest leadership," said AARP Senior Manager for Advocacy and Outreach, Nancy Nelson. "We need real solutions to solve this crisis, not stop-gap solutions that only promise to make things worse in the months and years to come."

The current proposals for a Fiscal Year 2011 budget are not enough to fix Illinois' broken budget – which currently features an estimated $13 billion deficit, and a $6 billion debt to providers. The proposals do not generate the revenue Illinois needs, and impose hard cuts for essential services.

For older Illinoisans the situation is critical – the budget plans being considered by the House and the Senate cut critical prescription drug assistance programs by $70 million, and slash $140 million from the Community Care Program, putting thousands of seniors at risk of having to move to nursing homes, which in the end will triple the cost to taxpayers.

Throughout the day, older Illinoisans, and dozens of organizations in Illinois' long-term care industry have called the AARP-provided Budget Hotline (1-800-719-3020), urging their elected representatives to pass a Responsible Budget that protects vital services.

Become a fan of AARP Illinois on Facebook -  www.facebook.com/aarpillinois

Follow us on Twitter - www.twitter.com/aarpillinois

SOURCE AARP Illinois