Hundreds of parents and child-care providers from Springfield and throughout Illinois gathered Thursday morning at the State Capitol to support full funding of the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) through June 30 and to reject $85 million in proposed cuts that, if enacted, would take effect July 1.
"Illinois Action for Children" claims the proposed cuts will mean many families won't be able to afford child care. The group also is fighting new eligibility rules and increased co-pays for parents.
Parents and child care providers continue to worry about when-- or if-- the state is going to come through with money to keep a subsidized daycare program running.
The state and federal government provide assistance for working parents who can't afford the cost of child care, but Illinois hasn't put aside enough money to pay its share.
Jacqueline Cervantes owns Pica Boo Day Care in Cicero. She watches eight children, and all of their families receive financial help from the state.
"One of the families has five children, and she can't afford to earn a salary of $6.75 an hour," Cervantes said. "This will bring a major problem, and she wants (to) pull her child out of school, so he can take care of all the other children, and that cannot happen."
Gov. Bruce Rauner says he wants the program to continue, but he and legislative leaders have been unable to reach an agreement.
While Rauner says a deal is close, the Senate President's office says major divides remain.
The Service Employees International Union organized Thursday’s rally.
Numerous state programs face cuts as the result of the Jan. 1 rollback of the state income tax without a replacement source for that revenue.
- Illinois Public Radio reporter Lisa Ryan contributed to this story.
