Dist. 41 candidates talk education, social service funding

Illinois is almost broke and its schools and social service agencies are getting stiffed by the state.

Both candidates running for the open Illinois House seat in District 41 say the situation is unacceptable. Both also oppose increasing the state income tax to solve it.

Democrat Brian Stephenson, a LaGrange Park attorney, says the first step should be a full audit of where the money is and where it's earmarked to go. Then the state can reprioritize its spending.

“To me, education has to be the top priority,” he said.

Republican Chris Nybo, an Elmhurst alderman, says education falls into the category of “state spending that really can't be cut.” But he believes the state could save up to $1 billion annually by running Medicaid more efficiently and eliminating fraud.

“In general, (Illinois) has never made running a more efficient Medicaid program a priority,” Nybo said. “Our focus has been on unreasonably expanding eligibility priority.”

Means testing, income verification and a vigorous efforts to reduce over-billing or wrong billing are needed, Nybo said.

Stephenson said it's possible “there could be some additional funds if they address Medicaid.” But he said any cuts to Medicaid must be done “very, very carefully.”

“They need to look at priorities there and the people that are going to be affected by it.”

Both candidates decried the erratic state payments that have left many social service agencies in crisis.

Stephenson has started several low-cost, community-based programs, including programs for juvenile offenders and the developmentally disabled. Nybo is a longtime volunteer with the Ray Graham Association.

“There are groups that are helping so many people that are underfunded,” said Stephenson. “We can't have that. It's essential to our community that we take care of everyone.”

Nybo said the state's delay in reimbursement to social service agencies is “just a cruel, cruel way to operate.”

By reducing costs, the state could use some of the savings “to get the reimbursement cycle for service providers back on a more reasonable schedule,” Nybo said.

In the short term, the state should work with banks and financial institutions to reestablish lines of credit for social service agencies that have been limited since the economy tanked, he said.

District 41 includes portions of Elmhurst, Lombard, Oakbrook Terrance and LaGrange Park.