David's Corner

It's been a busy year here in Literacy. I want to thank Katie, Aubrey, Lesley, Christine, Casey, Cat and my editor/buddy/mentor Mike for their support, compassion and confidence in me and this blog. This year we hope we wrote about important topics. We also  did a guest blog and contributed an entry to a writer's circle book. In 2016 we plan a full agenda for this blog. I want to thank all of my readers for opening their hearts to David's Corner!

Last year gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner pledged to "crack down on waste" in government in order to save taxpayers over $140 million. He  also vowed to cut $500 million from the Illinois Department  of Central Management Services and find another $250 million in Medicaid savings. So far our dear Governor has done nothing but a whole lot of talking! Meanwhile, children , developmentally disabled citizens and the sick suffer because of his self-centered agenda. He needs to wake up and get out of dreamland!

As I wrote last week, the lack of a state budget is hurting our next generation. This bill, SB 2046 funds  critical services for Illinois' most vulnerable citizens and enables  the social safety net to remain intact. It should be supported. Now is the critical opportunity for our elected officials to demonstrate the leadership and problem solving Illinois' citizens need, short of fixing the budget. A vote against SB 2046  or a veto of this bill puts vulnerable Illinois citizens at risk, threatens to cost  taxpayers more in emergency interventions and will decimate the social service infrastructure on which many of us depend.

From the Responsible Budget Coalition: "90% of working families applying for childcare assistance are no longer eligible. Parents who applied for childcare after July 1st and are working more than 20 hours a week at minimum wage do not qualify for the program." All because we don't have a state budget. Other programs being cut include, Autism, Epilepsy, Cancer, HIV/AIDS and  Mental Health and make Illinois an unhealthy and unsafe state to live in. Also, after school programs have closed and early intervention therapists are not being paid.  Illinois also stopped funding college tuition assistance. And why don't we have a state budget? Because our dimwitted Governor and stubborn Speaker of the House need to grow up and start doing what voters elected them to do-- the work of the citizens of Illinois!!! Let's go!!!

Mr Governor, legislators, fellow citizens: ENOUGH! It's almost Thanksgiving and still no budget! This is uncalled for and hurts children most. By failing to pass a budget, children and young adults are suffering from domestic violence without emergency help from  the state, according to Voices of Illinois Children, an advocacy group. This turns my stomach, how about you?

Joe Maddon means business. He is an outstanding leader of a very dynamic, young baseball  team. We had a good fun run in 2015, but the Muts had the lumber, still it was great to see KC put them into a slumber!

Last night the big time came in to the Windy City as the Chicago Cubs clinched their division in a most challenging way! They first had to win a wild card game, then beat the team with the most wins in major league baseball. Who knows if we will play east or west for the NLCS? I don't know, but the Cubs are the best! Stand by for more...