SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – After voting to fund programs currently being neglected due to the state’s continued budget impasse, state Rep. Mike Smiddy, D-Hillsdale, issued the following statement:
"The future leaders of our state can't wait for the chance at an education, and we have students right here in our communities that aren’t enrolled in classes because the MAP funds they need aren’t there. The adults taking classes to give their family a better life, seniors that need in-home care to stay out of nursing homes and women across Illinois that need help paying for breast and cervical cancer screenings can't wait for us to end this stalemate and get a budget. Making sure these programs exist for the thousands that really need them is our responsibility, and I believe the state should stand behind its word and support them.
"The Rauner Republicans in the House want to use these programs to create leverage to pass their extreme agenda that will hurt working families. I don't think that's right, and it's a shame that Republican leaders won't allow their members to do what's right and help these people.
"I'll continue to be available to state leaders from both parties to work out a compromise that will produce a complete state budget. In the meantime, I'll fight to ensure that working families don't pay the price for Springfield's dysfunction."
