Statement Regarding Governor Pritzker’s Proposed Budget from Rosanna Marquez, AARP IL Volunteer State President

Statement Regarding Gov. Pritzker’s Proposed Budget from Rosanna Marquez, AARP IL Volunteer State President

February 17, 2021

On behalf of our 1.7 million members in the state, AARP Illinois commends Gov. Pritzker on proposing a budget that keeps his promise to not tax retirement income while addressing urgent needs for those 50+ and their families.

In addition to the full-funding of the state’s Community Care program, we are pleased to see the continuation of assistive technology in the program and the expansion of home-delivered meals – a key element to preventing food insecurity.

During this time of crisis, we also commend the governor for addressing the pressing needs of older adults through the Emergency Senior Service program. The plan to improve resident care in long-term care facilities is a much-needed safeguard for residents who have tragically suffered the most from sickness and death due to COVID-19.

Gov. Pritzker and the  Illinois Department on Aging have acted on behalf of the state’s older adults by shifting money within their current budget to provide vaccine education and transportation support for those who need it.

This budget also takes crucial steps forward by promising to address longstanding disparities for African American/Black, Hispanic/Latino and Asian American residents in the areas of health, wealth and connectivity to high-speed Internet.

We commend the plan to dedicate $1 million to fund Alzheimer’s Disease outreach research, care and support.

Finally, AARP Illinois is pleased to see the focus on addressing the state’s fiscal crisis by prioritizing paying down borrowing and our $5 billion bill backlog.

Older adults in Illinois feel strongly that addressing the state’s fiscal crisis must be a top priority. They feel this way because of the pressures they face every day with the nation’s highest property taxes, increasing local and state fees, higher utility rates, and an ever-increasing cost of living.

AARP Illinois looks forward to working with Gov. Pritzker and Illinois lawmakers on passing a fiscally responsible FY22 budget that meets the needs of the state’s older adults and their families.