Thirty-nine Chicago Jewish community leaders and
professionals boarded a bus early Wednesday morning for a two-day mission in
Springfield organized by the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago to
advocate for the issues that matter to their respective organizations and
constituents.
“The power of collaboration among the Jewish
Federation agencies is highlighted on the Springfield mission, particularly
when we bring our message directly to the legislators,” said Wendy Abrams,
vice chair of the Federation's Government Affairs Committee and State chair.
Participants came from CJE SeniorLife, HIAS, Jewish Child
and Family Services, Jewish Vocational Service, and Sinai Health System as
well as the Jewish Women’s Foundation, the Health and Human Services
Commission, JCFC and the Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan
Chicago Board of Directors in addition to the Government Affairs
Committee.
“In private meetings with the leaders, we talked
about the critical need to fully fund health and human services and the
imperative of understanding the short and long-term consequences of failing
to do so,” said JUF Chairman of the Board David T. Brown.
Deep cuts in every area – health, education, human services,
and public safety – are being proposed for the 2015 State Budget in the event
that the temporary tax increase – scheduled to expire in January 2015 – is
not renewed. The network of agencies within the Jewish Federation receive
over $300 million a year in government funding, most of which, including
much of the Federal funding, comes through the State.
“After focusing for many years in fundraising for JUF, after
being involved in the Government Affairs Committee missions, I have a far
greater appreciation for the role that government funding plays in supporting
the critical work done by our agencies,” said Andy Hochberg, chair of the
Government Affairs Committee. “I was very glad to have the opportunity to talk
with our state officials who grant extraordinary access to our mission
participants."
There were 18 meetings held with
legislators including Senate President John Cullerton, Senate Republican
Leader Christine Radogno, House Republican Leader Jim Durkin, and House
Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie. Participants felt that the legislators
listened carefully to their message, even if the interaction was a bit
challenging at times.
That evening, Governor Pat Quinn,
Comptroller Judy Barr Topinka and various legislators joined the mission
participants for cocktails at the Governor’s Mansion reception. After dinner,
freshmen members of the Jewish Caucus, Representatives Scott Drury and Laura
Fine and Senator Julie Morrison, called up the more senior members of the
Caucus, Representatives Sara Feigenholtz, Robyn Gabel, Lou
Lang, and Elaine Nekrtiz and seniors Daniel Biss and Ira Silverstein, for a
tongue-in-cheek question-and-answer session.
On Thursday,
Mission participants returned to the Capital for more meetings and then ended
their visit by participating in the State of Illinois Holocaust Memorial
Observance at the Old State Capitol.