Don't Let July 1 Be "Doomsday" For People With Epilepsy!
VITAL STATEWIDE EPILPESY SERVICES WILL END JULY 1
Take Action!
Don't Let This Be "Doomsday" for the People of Illinois
Wednesday, July 1, 2009 is going to be a devastating day for people with
epilepsy in the State of Illinois.
That's the day the state's FY2010 budget goes into effect. And right now, that
budget contains NO money for specialized epilepsy care services, such as the
kind currently being offered by Epilepsy Foundation affiliates across Illinois.
The Illinois General Assembly had a chance to pass a comprehensive, balanced
budget as presented by Governor Pat Quinn before ending their session on May 31.
And members of the Illinois Senate did just that. House members, however, voted
against the Governor's budget, choosing instead to punish the most vulnerable
members of society.
In response to the House's inability to pass a responsible budget, the Illinois
Department of Health and Human Services was forced to implement its "doomsday"
budget plan, which eliminates funding to dozens of key social services,
including those designated for the provision of medical, social, and support
programs for individuals with epilepsy. The state's budget is "balanced," but
its social infrastructure is in peril. And people with epilepsy are going to
suffer because of it.
Starting July 1, if funding is not restored to the state's budget, Epilepsy
Foundation affiliates will be forced to begin implementing dramatic program
cuts—cuts that will directly impact the over 129,000 people with epilepsy in
Illinois.
But all may not be lost.
Governor Quinn is asking members of the General Assembly to return to
Springfield next week so that he can work with House members in passing a budget
which meets the state's obligations to its citizens. Last time around, only 42
of the 118 House members voted in favor of the Governor's budget. The rest voted
'no.'
We need to turn those 'no' votes into 'yes' votes—votes that say 'yes' to
individuals with epilepsy and other disabilities, 'yes' to the continuation of
vital social services, and 'yes' to the people of Illinois!
On behalf of the over 129,000 people with epilepsy in Illinois, please call your
State Representative TODAY and ask them not to play politics with peoples'
lives, and to support Governor Quinn's FY2010 budget.
Thank you!
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