SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WGN) — Groups worried about Washington’s proposed Medicaid cuts rallied at the state capitol in Springfield on Wednesday, four days before the end of the legislative session and as state lawmakers wrestle with how to stretch limited dollars.
The governor’s proposed budget is a half billion dollars short and the state is facing a loss of federal funding with the Republican-led Congress considering a variety of cuts. By some estimates, Illinois could lose more than $3 billion in funding, resulting in several hundred thousand people losing coverage.
"We have a federal administration that not only seeks to weaponize every tool to hurt our people, but also uses all of our taxpayer money to literally hurt our people," said State Senator Graciela Guzman.
State Rep. Kelly Cassidy urged those in attendance to not give up the fight.
"Lives depend on it," she said.
Making matters worse, Gov. JB Pritzker has proposed cutting the state’s health care program for some undocumented adults.
President Trump’s "Big Beautiful Bill" passed the House of Representatives and now awaits action in the Senate, where it faces a number of objections from Republicans. With the Illinois legislature’s spring session scheduled to end Saturday night, leaders have floated the idea of coming back later this summer to address Medicaid.
Elsewhere at the Capitol, Black interest groups and business owners, still reeling from the lack of diversity in the state’s legal cannabis industry, want Pritzker and the Democratic majority to make good on their economic access promises.
"Political leaders who are vying for national offices need to demonstrate effective and equitable leadership here in Illinois," said Creola Hampton with the Black Leadership Advocacy Coalition for Healthcare Equity.
"The same forces that have historically shut Black communities out of wealth building opportunities are already positioning themselves to do it again," added Samuel Wilson with the Illinois Black Hemp Association.
Also on the Springfield agenda: Chicago area transit. Lawmakers dropped a new reform bill that does not address the Regional Transportation Authority’s fiscal cliff.
The Regional Transportation Authority, which oversees the Chicago Transit Authority, Metra and Pace, is seeking $1.5 billion in new funding, warning if lawmakers don’t act, they’ll face 40 percent service cuts and possible layoffs.
With the state’s huge financial challenges, Pritzker said he’s standing firmly against across-the-board tax increases.
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May 28, 2025 at 06:26PM
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