Dems Scoff At Rauner Compromise; Push For Child Care Override

Dave Dahl -- Illinois Radio Network

Rather than jump to accept what was billed as a compromise by the governor, Illinois House Democrats tried and failed to reverse the cuts the Rauner administration imposed to a child care subsidy program.

The administration said it was offering to restore most but not all of those newly declared ineligible. Republican House member Chad Hays says it makes no sense not to take that deal.

Sometimes, he said, “it's necessary to dust off your decoder ring and just call, 'nonsense.' I mean, the deal has been struck here!”

An angry sponsor, State Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth, said of the time since the fiscal-year-without-a-budget began, “People have been boomeranged for the last four months. We have gone from a national leader in early childhood education to dead last in the nation in four short months.”

SB 570 has failed to pass the House, 70-35-4. The bill needed 71 votes to pass. The sponsor reserves the right to call it again.