(The Center Square) – A proposed cut to service hours for workers of group homes for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities has been paused by Gov. J.B. Pritzker. Many Republicans are calling for the cuts to be thrown out altogether.
The plan, which was put on pause by the governor, was to cut 2.5 million service hours for direct support professional workers in group homes where approximately 10,000 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities live.
The pushback was led by state Sen. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet, who penned a letter to Pritzker demanding the governor not cut the hours.
Rose told The Center Square that he is glad the plan was paused but is still pushing to remove the cuts for good.
“The governor’s office has agreed to pause its implementation of this in this fiscal year, which is a good step forward,” Rose said. “We want to see this rescinded. A bipartisan group of legislators wants to see this rescinded because it is wrong.”
Rose said lawmakers will work this session on a way to remove the cut altogether.
“The good news is he hit the pause button on this, and that gives the legislature, which reconvenes for the spring session now, the opportunity to move to block this,” Rose said.
Rose and others have said cutting these workers’ hours could have serious negative consequences.
“How do you possibly want to cut 2.5 million hours of direct care to the developmentally disabled?” Rose asked. “Whether it’s basic needs like toileting, showers, things like feeding or medications, or otherwise, it would be a dangerous decline in service.”
Nineteen lawmakers have signed a letter calling for the governor to abolish the cuts.
