Gordon-Booth Urges Governor to Sign Bi-Partisan Human Services Appropriations

PEORIA, Ill. – State Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth, D-Peoria, is calling on Gov. Bruce Rauner to sign Senate Bill 2038, legislation that was approved by the House of Representatives to provide funding for human service providers.

“In the Peoria area, human services providers are the fifth largest employer,” Gordon-Booth said. “But, the number of employees they have is rapidly declining the longer this budget impasse continues. This funding will help not only our human service providers, but their clients as well.”

Senate Bill 2038, which Gordon-Booth supported, provides emergency funding to provide funding for home health care for seniors, breast and cervical cancer screenings, Meals on Wheels, mental health programs and support for victims of sexual assault. Funding for this bill was identified by Republican and Democratic legislators and does not add to the state’s deficit. The bill was crafted in a same way that emergency funding for higher education was passed and signed by the governor. The legislation was unanimously approved by Democrats and Republicans in the General Assembly from across the state and received support from all Peoria area legislators.

“Every day the Heart of Illinois United Way hears from our social service provider partners about the struggles they are facing due to the budget impasse. Unfortunately, this has caused a reduction in vital programs and services in central Illinois. We appreciate the unanimous support of all Peoria-area legislators for SB2038 and join many others in urging the governor to sign this bill,” Michael Stephan, President of the Heart of Illinois United Way, said.

“The governor has had this bill for over a month and hasn’t taken any action,” Gordon-Booth said. “While I whole-heartedly agree with him that we need a long-term budget solution, we cannot allow this stalemate to jeopardize the services people rely on. This is hurting our constituents, businesses and economy and I encourage the governor to the right thing and sign the emergency budget bill immediately.”

To ask Gov. Rauner to sign Senate Bill 2038 and provide emergency funding for social services, please call 217-782-0244. For more information, please contact Gordon-Booth’s constituent services office at 309-681-1992 or email repjgordon@gmail.com.

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