On Thursday, 9/8, I (Fr. Joe) testified in front of the "Budgetting for Results" Commission of the State of Illinois. This Commission has the responsibility to recommend to the Governor better ways to use state revenues (tax money) for state services. We all know that in the last two years, the State of Illinois has cut funding for many programs. Since 2009, monies for Human Services in Illinois have been cut by more than 1/3rd. Examples of cuts: community mental health programs (36% funding cut), addiction treatment services (38%), prevent juvenile crime (34%), after school programs (54%), services for teen parents (79%). At the hearing, there were people representing many groups: homeless people, after school programs, parent programs, immigration groups. AMBER SMOCK from ACCESS LIVING gave very good testimony about the needs of persons with disabilities. My testimony to the Commission follows:
My name is Father Joseph Mulcrone, Director of the Catholic Office of the Deaf, Archdiocese of Chicago. Thank you for the opportunity to share my cocnerns at this hearing. For over 34 years, I have been privileged to serve the deaf and hard of hearing community. I am here specifically to report the impact on deaf senior citizens of the recent budget decisions by the State of illinois.
Starting in this budget year, the State of Illinois and other governmental agencies made a number of decisions that hurt seniors. The single biggest one was the reduction of income limits, and therefore eligibility, for the Circuit Breaker, Illinois Cares RX program. These cuts were coupled with the change the RTA made in eliminating free rides for most seniors and people with disabilities. In and of themselves, these cuts made life more difficult for people who are on small, fixed incomes. For deaf seniors all this was made worse by funding cuts to agencies that specifically serve them, such as Access Living, Progress Center, and the other Centers for Independent Living throughout the state.
Couple these cuts with the fact that there has been NO increase in Social Security payments for the last three years. However, each year the cost for Medicare premiums has increased. In fact, what seniors receive from Social Security today is worth less than what they were receiving three years ago. All these caused great stress in the lives of the people I see every week. Now, add one other consideration.
Do you shop for groceries? Have you seen the cost of coffee, bread, and milk recently? These foods are the ordinary food for seniors and people on limited incomes. A cup of coffee with some milk; a piece of toast with some butter or jelly. You add these cost increases (and that of gas costs or the bus fare to get to the store) to the increases demanded by the State reductions, and you have a disaster.
I am not being dramatic when I say that for many deaf/hard of hearing seniors, what has happened in Illinois has created an endless round of, "do I pay for..medicine...food...gas...rent...electricity?" stress every month. I am not ignorant of the financial situation of this state or our country. However, the seniors I deal with are people the people who worked hard , paid their taxes, tried to save their pennies, contributed to Social Security all their lives. A return to the income requirements prior to the reductions established this year would be a great benefit to many of these people, and a sign that at least some people in this state actually care about their lives. Thank you.
Reverend Joseph A. Mulcrone

What is really scaring me right now are politicians in Illinois and others running for political office around the USA who are suggesting drastcially changing the MEDICAID program. These politicians are suggesting that MEDICAID become a "Block Grant". Presently, Medicaid pays for medical care of poor people and people who are disabled. Medicaid also pays for treatment for people with mental illnesses.(Many deaf people and people with disabilities in Illinois get medical care because of MEDICAID.) The Federal government gives Medicaid monies to the State of Illinois to pay for these services. If the Federal government changed Medicaid into a Block Grant, it means that the Federal government would give Illinois a certain amount of "Medicaid" money. Does the State of Illinois HAVE TO spend all that money on medical services? NO! In addition, once that money was gone, there would be no more money for medical care for the poor or people with disabiltiies. On Wed, 9/21/11, there will be a rally in Washington, DC at Noon at the Congress to protest the proposed changes in Medicaid. The rally (FREE) will be interpreted in American Sign-Language.