The Illinois General Assembly passed legislation Thursday that makes severe cuts in Medicaid, the health care program for the poor. Though the measures had broad support from both Republicans and Democrats, several lawmakers spoke out against the reductions.
Mary Flowers, a Democratic member of the House from Chicago, wondered why the state's leaders focused on Medicaid when looking to solve the budget problems.
"I don't know where it's written in the law that this has to be balanced off the backs of poor people. Off the backs of seniors. Off the backs of the aged, blind, and disabled. I haven't seen that in the years that I've been down here."
The measure now goes to Governor Pat Quinn. He released a statement praising lawmakers for supporting the cuts ... which are a crucial component of his budget proposal.
The Medicaid deal depends on several other pieces of legislation passing in the coming days, including a dollar increase in the sales tax on a pack of cigarettes.
Illinois officials are trying to close a $2.7 billion hole in the Medicaid budget.
