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Budget Impasse On The Minds Of Seniors Too

Brian Mackey
/
Illinois Public Radio

Senior citizens are among those feeling the pain of Illinois' partial government shutdown. AARP and other groups are calling on the state’s top politicians to set aside their differences and pass a state budget.

John Zorn, age 86, says he’s had four eye operations in the past few years, which has made him almost blind.

"I had a choice of either going to assisted living or a nursing home," Zorn said.

Instead, he’s getting a ride to and from a senior center in Springfield every day.

"This program has allowed me to have one really fine meal a day at noon," Zorn said.

Except now, because of the Illinois shutdown, Zorn gets that meal just four days a week instead of five.
That’s because a lack of state funding has forced Senior Services of Central Illinois to cut back.

Gov. Bruce Rauner says he won’t negotiate on the budget until Democrats agree to a number of changes in state law, including some that would weaken government labor unions. Democrats say that is something they will not do.
 

Brian Mackey formerly reported on state government and politics for NPR Illinois and a dozen other public radio stations across the state. Before that, he was A&E editor at The State Journal-Register and Statehouse bureau chief for the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin.
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