Dems Fail To Undo Rauner’s Child Care Cuts — Gov Backs Off Anyway
Child-care advocates confront Rep. Ken Dunkin over his decision to go back on a promise to support legislation they favored. Amanda Vinicky/WUIS
Gov. Bruce Rauner is standing by his decision to backtrack on cuts to a low-income daycare program. That comes even as Democrats in the Illinois House failed to pass legislation that would have forced Rauner to undo his changes.
The program is meant to help parents out of poverty by subsidizing daycare, so they can work or go to school.
Rauner unilaterally slashed eligibility this summer. After months of outcry and a Democratic threat to pass legislation undoing his changes, Rauner on Monday announced he'd back off most of the cuts.
But Democrats, like Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth of Peoria, still wanted the legislation. She says parents and daycare owners need certainty Rauner won't change his mind again.
"We have already seen over 70,000 children either rejected or kicked out of this program," Gordon-Booth said in debate.
Democrats fell one vote short of forcing Rauner's hand.
In a statement, the governor indicated he'd still reverse most of his reductions to the program.
Links
- Long-Term Effects of an Early Childhood Intervention on Educational Achievements and Juvenile Arrest
- Rauner Reverses Course On Childcare Eligibility
- Single Mom Fights Child Care Cuts; But Who’s Listening?
- Who Deserves State Help Paying For Childcare? A Debate Goes Viral
- Budget Impasse Affects Child Care Assistance Program
- Report Shows 43 Percent Of Illinois Young Children In Poverty