Progress Illinois

Currently, 4,600 Illinoisans rely on the Illinois AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), with over 100 additional people -- many of them unemployed -- applying each month.  To meet an anticipated 15 percent surge in enrollees this year, the state is now being forced to cut back on another important service: HIV prevention.  Last week, State Rep. Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) convened a public hearing in Chicago to brainstorm "a balanced and sustainable solution to this public health emergency.”  David Ormsby has more on the latest casualty of the state budget crisis.

During last night's WTTW debate, Democratic gubernatorial challenger Dan Hynes said that, when Gov. Pat Quinn's plan to raise the state income tax "failed" during the spring legislative session, he "had no plan B."  It's a fair point.  But I would have liked to hear Quinn or moderator Carol Marin ask Hynes what his own "plan B" would look like if he wins the primary and his proposal to pass a progressive income tax subsequently fails.  Remember, in order to implement this budget fix, Hynes' constitutional amendment has to be approved by a three-fifths vote in both legislative chambers (before the May 3 deadline) and then again by a majority of voters on Election Day in November.