The Crystal Ball: Predictions for Illinois AIDS Advocacy in 2009

John Peller, AFC Director of Government Affairs, dishes up a 2008 year-in-review and 2009 predictions for Illinois AIDS advocacy.

As we near the end of 2008, let’s look back at some of the political highlights of the year and dust off the crystal ball to see what the future might hold.
 
Obama Made the White House, Rod Made the Papers: “President Obama.” ‘Nuff said.

On the other hand, news that FBI agents arrested Governor Rod Blagojevich in early December for official misconduct and ‘pay-to-play’ schemes has rocked the state’s political system and shocked the general public.

New Faces – New Game? In Springfield, two new leaders take the helm in the Illinois Senate. Next year, long-time HIV/AIDS advocate Senator John Cullerton (D-Chicago) will become the Senate President; Sen. Christine Radogno (R-La Grange), a moderate and staunch supporter of HIV-related legislative initiatives, will serve as the Senate Republican leader.  Cullerton is widely expected to work more closely with House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) than his predecessor, current Senate President Emil Jones.  It remains to be seen if there will be peace between the House, Senate, and whoever occupies the governor’s office.

Win Some, Lose Some: The 2008 state budget contained some mixed news for state HIV/AIDS funding:

- The legislature and governor agreed to boost the AIDS Drug Assistance Program income eligibility to 500% of federal poverty (since postponed until 2009) and increase funding for HIV testing in healthcare settings, for a total increase for HIV-related funding of $1 million.

- The Quality of Life lottery game raised almost $1.4 million in new funding for HIV/AIDS prevention and care services.  Proceeds from the new game, championed by State Rep. Karen Yarbrough (D-Maywood), State Sen. Jacqueline Collins (D-Chicago), and advocates Mark Loveless, Ben Montgomery, and Michael O’Connor, will be granted to agencies by the state health department in 2009.

- Sadly, lawmakers did not renew funding for the African American HIV/AIDS Response Act.

The Crystal Ball Speaks: “Budget Gloom and Doom Ahead”:

The deep national recession forced Illinois to dig into the couch cushions for pennies to pay bills, but it came up empty-handed.  According to media reports, the state owes vendors more than $4 billion for state services, but doesn’t have the cash to pay them.  Vendors—including HIV/AIDS agencies, Medicaid providers, and social service agencies—can’t get lines of credit because their banks have nothing to lend.

Obama will fix it... right?

We hope everything will be coming up roses by the time we have the coffee brewing on the morning of January 21, 2009.  But will it?  Not quite.  A major cash bonus to states from Uncle Sam (in the form of more Medicaid money) will help tremendously, but state tax revenue continues to plummet.  The state’s fiscal wizards predict that revenue will be $1.34 billion short of projections.

http://www.ctbaonline.org/Weekly%20Review/2008/11-25-2008%20Weekly%20Rev...

The state FY 2010 outlook will likely be worse.  It will take time for President-Elect Obama’s economic stimulus plan to translate into state revenues that keep up with inflation, let alone meet the needs of the state’s most vulnerable residents.  A major state revenue overhaul may be needed to avoid major service cuts.

Thanks, Mr. Mayor:

Although the 2009 City of Chicago budget was austere, Chicago AIDS advocates can thank Mayor Daley and Aldermen—led by Tom Tunney (44th Ward)—for maintaining HIV/AIDS prevention and housing funding.  As federal funding has declined, stable local funding has been a lifeline for HIV/AIDS service providers.

Go! Fight! Win!

You could succumb to the doom and gloom, put on your mumu, and eat bonbons till you’re big as a house.  Or you could save the date for the annual trek to Springfield, the 2009 state HIV/AIDS Lobby Day on March 3-4, and AIDS Watch in Washington DC, April 27-29, 2009.

Whatever 2009 holds, it’s up to us—people living with HIV, service providers, advocates, parents, lovers, friends—to hold our elected officials accountable and to deliver the change we need.

John Peller is Director of Government Affairs at the AIDS Foundation of Chicago. Contact him via email: jpeller@aidschicago.org