Illinois lawmakers are trying to shuffle money to keep child care services from shutting down across the state.
Illinois is on the verge of halting payments to government-subsidized child care programs that serve about 85,000 parents. Governor Pat Quinn's administration says money for child care had to be diverted to paying welfare benefits. The House Wednesday voted 113-3 to take $70-Million from other parts of the state budget to avoid interruptions in child care. The bill uses Medicare offset monies to replace about that the governor diverted to other social service program. The measure now goes to the Senate.
House republican leader Tom Cross blamed Quinn for the problem. He says the democratic governor intentionally ``used'' child care providers by spending their funds elsewhere so they would come to Springfield and demand more money.
