It's up to you, Governor Quinn

This week, the Illinois General Assembly sent Governor Pat Quinn a state budget bill (HB 859) that gives him unprecedented ability to fund - or not fund - state programs in fiscal year 2011. The ball is in the governor's court.

HB 859 gives Governor Quinn sole authority to allocate funding to lifesaving HIV programs such as the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), HIV prevention programs, and housing and care services.  Though the Governor will have large pots of funding to allocate among various priorities, it  is painfully clear that the need far outpaces available funding. 

On May 21, a state public health advisory panel recommended that Illinois immediately institute a waiting list for ADAP because available funding was insufficient to maintain the program in the face of extraordinary growth.  HIV advocates, the AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC), and legislative allies urge Quinn to provide $9.68 million in additional funding to maintain ADAP, as well as $7.4 million to restore previous cuts to HIV prevention, housing, and care programs.

The overall outline of the state budget is apparent.  The fiscal year 2011 budget is at least $7 billion in the red.  The state—yet again—is relying on borrowing that must be repaid, one-time revenue, and cuts.  The state’s estimated $6 billion in unpaid bills will continue to grow, and payment delays will get even longer.  Legislators ducked the opportunity to enact a real state budget solution that adequately funds state priorities by raising taxes, and Statehouse greybeards say that must wait till January 2011.

AFC thanks the advocates who contacted their legislators during this legislative session, in person at HIV/AIDS Lobby Days or in their districts, or by phone, fax, and email. AIDS advocates made their voices heard in unprecedented ways this year, speaking at press conferences in Springfield and throughout the state, at district town halls, and other venues.  You put HIV on the map. Thanks to your advocacy, legislators heard powerful, emotional, first-persons stories of why ADAP, prevention, housing and care programs matter.
 
Most importantly, AFC thanks the legislators who fought hard for HIV programs, including State Senators Heather Steans (D-Chicago), John Cullerton (D-Chicago), Jacquie Collins (D-Chicago), Iris Martinez (D-Chicago), and Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) and State Reps. Harry Osterman (D-Chicago), Greg Harris (D-Chicago), Will Burns (D-Chicago), Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) and Lisa Hernandez (D-Cicero).   AFC also thanks State Rep. Will Davis (D-E. Hazel Crest), who led the push for a tax increase. 
 
AFC also thanks our partners in the fight for a fair budget, the Responsible Budget Coalition.  Thanks to this extraordinary group, we delivered clear, consistent messages on the budget and were a unified voice for a solution that meets the needs of everyone in the state.

We have work ahead.  Our advocacy must continue.  We will fight to make sure Governor Quinn provides sufficient funding for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program and other priorities.

Stay tuned for more information and advocacy opportunities after the General Assembly finalizes remaining budget bills.

• State Journal-Register budget bill overview 
• Center on Tax and Budget Accountability estimates $7 billion deficit