SPRINGFIELD — Following Governor JB Pritzker’s budget address Wednesday, State Senator Graciela Guzmán expressed gratitude and frustration for elements of the proposed budget.
“Every Illinoisan should receive the health benefits and services they need to live healthy lives,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “As a firm believer in healthcare for all, I am eager to expand on the governor’s recommendations in the final budget so that hardworking Illinoisans can access the care they need without going into debt.”
This budget proposal recommended a $30 million investment to help more than three million Illinoisans with medical needs, including more than 785,000 adults eligible through the Affordable Care Act. These funds include a total of $15 million for the Medical Debt Relief Pilot Program Fund, a program to erase medical debt for 300,000 Illinois residents.
However, while the proposal seeks to make health care more accessible for some Illinoisans, it does not propose allocating funds for the Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults program, potentially leaving low-income adults aged 42 to 64 without insurance coverage. Guzmán, a fierce advocate for immigrant adults, expressed her commitment to fighting for investments in this program in the final budget.
“All Illinoisans deserve to be healthy and experience wellness, regardless of ZIP code, gender expression, or immigration status,” said Guzmán. “The loss of HBIA would impact thousands of Illinoisians, some who have been here for decades, as well as those with mixed-status families including one or multiple U.S. citizens. We must continue to center racial justice in our work toward high-quality universal health care that expands the ability of all Illinoisans, especially people of color, to obtain necessary health care and related services.”
Guzmán also reaffirms her commitment to disability justice advocates and organizers to raise base wages to the fullest extent. The proposal only includes a slight wage increase for direct support professionals serving people with developmental disabilities.
“We can have a budget that is both economically and morally responsible. Our budget needs to be balanced, but not on the backs of working people. I will continue championing disability justice and look forward to working with my colleagues to negotiate a finalized budget that better supports direct support professionals and people with disabilities,” said Guzmán. “ As we begin budget negotiations, I vow to center and uplift the needs of working people in Illinois. I also plan to make space in my district for open and honest conversations about the budget process so my community is more informed of how the negotiations work and how we advocate for their needs in the Senate. ”