Impasse Passes Three-Month Mark

As of Thursday the state of Illinois will reach another level of banana republic status: a full one-quarter into the fiscal year without a budget in place, social services crumbling, billions of dollars in bills going unpaid and no sign of any negotiations between Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and Democratic leaders in the Legislature.

Four staff members at Community Elements in Champaign have lost their jobs and three others have had their hours cut back, the homeless no longer are being served lunch at the Times Center in Champaign, and other service agencies, now operating on cash reserves, are running out of cash.

Last Thursday the United Way of Champaign voted to allow some of its partner programs to get a cash advance on payments they're supposed to get next spring, but they acknowledge it's only a stopgap maneuver.

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