Jacobs: Public Safety, Education need to be top budget priority

SPRINGFIELD — Senator Mike Jacobs (D-Moline), a member of the Senate Appropriations II Committee, heard testimony from state agencies concerning cuts to much needed programs and facilities across the state.

"The scenario I heard about today would mean cuts across the board," said Jacobs. "Everything from additional prison closures, to cutting the jobs home health care workers and closing every forensics lab in the state. We are facing a scenario that will affect each and every one of us."

The Appropriations Committee, which took place today, heard testimony from the Department of Human Services, Aging, Corrections, and State Police, Veterans’ Affairs as well as a number of other agencies. These agencies proposed their budgets for the next year with a 20 percent reduction.

“Although this doesn’t sound like a huge number, this translates into real world cuts like laying off police officers across the state, tens of thousands of students would not receive MAP Grants, veterans affairs field offices and veterans homes would be closed,” said Jacobs.

Jacobs went on to say he would work with the administration to find a solution to ensure these draconian cuts do not have to become reality.