DRASTIC CUTS PROPOSED IN SENATE!
Extension Board, Members and Friends:
Last night the Illinois Senate Appropriations Committees I and II heard bills, that if passed, would cut deeply in to all segments of State government.
Many programs were simply "zeroed out", gone, deleted! Unfortunately, Extension line items were included in this cutting frenzy.
THIS IS THE FIRST VOLLEY. The gamesmanship this year has started. Some think the Dems are responding to the Repubs with, "You want cuts? We'll give you cuts!" I think we all know that no one will be spared in the effort to save Illinois from bankruptcy, but the cuts to Extension are excessive. We need to campaign to save the line items for Extension in the Department of Agriculture's budget.
THE NUMBERS
Senate Bill 2408 - Senate Amendments #1 and #2
COUNTY BOARD MATCH - Zeroed Out - no funding
COOK COUNTY MONEY - Zeroed Out - no funding
The rumor is that Speaker Madigan wants to finalize the budget by May 21st so that the General Assembly can focus of the remap of the legislative districts. The House Approp Committees are scheduled to meet later today, and it is suspected their cuts will be even more drastic than those of the Senate.
WE HAVE NO TIME TO HESITATE!
Monday May 9th is the final weekday that legislators supposedly will be in their district offices.
ACTION PLAN
1. Reach out and share this information with everyone who uses Extension services; especially make sure your County Board knows what is going on.
2. Activate phone trees.
3. Make personal visits when possible.
4. Let your legislators, both Senate and House members, know the impact on Extension programming in their Districts.
We have our work cut out for us and time is short.
GOOD LUCK......let's GO!
Pam
Note: There was also a budget fact sheet attached to this e-mail. If you would like a copy, send your request to ieafcslife@gmail.com
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