On Dec. 14, Illinois State Sen. Michael Hastings and State Rep. Tom Demmer answered tough questions about the state budget crisis at JUF’s Government Affairs Committee meeting. Also participating on the panel were Karen Teitelbaum, president and CEO of Sinai Health System, and Mark Weiner, president and CEO of CJE SeniorLife.

Hastings and Demmer addressed a number of pressing issues including the importance of public and private partnerships, likely next steps in the budget impasse, and revenue options. Approaching a spending deficit of $7.4 billion, both legislators agreed that revived state income would be a necessary strategy in closing the budget gap. Hastings indicated that revenue is part of the solution, but cautioned that “the increase needs to be stable, certain, and sufficient.”

Demmer said that new revenue is needed, but also expressed the need for spending cuts in part through consolidating government units and programs.”It could be more cost efficient if state health and human services agencies functioned as one operating system,” he said.

Addressing the legislators, Teitelbaum and Weiner closed the discussion with an overview of their state partnership programs and how proposed cuts and guideline changes would impact services at their organizations. Teitelbaum also said that providers should “be at the table when discussions on program changes take place.”

After thanking the speakers, Government Affairs Committee Chair David Golder stressed the importance of educating our elected officials on the many pressing issues impacting our community, and encouraged members of the committee to participate in the spring missions to Springfield, Ill. and Washington, D.C.