Springfield budget battle impacts federally-funded WIC in Illinois

OAK LAWN, Ill. (WLS) -- Low income mothers who rely on a supplemental nutrition program for their children may get less help because of the state budget crisis. The organization that operates the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program in Illinois says it will no longer be able to provide crucial services to tens of thousands of women.

At issue: federal money for WIC must pass through Springfield before it can be distributed in Illinois by the Community Economic Development Association (CEDA).

Anna Lopez depends on WIC to help feed her baby daughter, Luna.

"They're helping me each month. They give me some coupons so I can go and buy some milk, eggs," Lopez said.

The CEDA office, one of 19 Cook County WIC outlets, will close next week and suspend services to 50,000 low income women and children. The kids include many infants on special diets.

"We are the provider for over 5,000 medically fragile children that require a specialized formula," Margaret Saunders, CEDA, said.

Illinois CEDA offices cannot receive their federal dollars because the money must pass through the state government in Springfield where the General Assembly and Governor Bruce Rauner still have not agreed on a budget.

"It's unnecessary. It's unconscionable. And we never should have gotten to this point," State Senator Daniel Biss, (D) North Shore, said.

The majority Democratic lawmakers sent the Republican governor a spending plan $4 billion short of needed revenue. The governor won't agree to a tax increase until lawmakers accept his structural reforms or "turnaround agenda/"

"The Governor is holding poor people, the people that need it the most, he's holding them hostage," State Representative Mary Flowers, (D) Chicago, said.

"When the federal government is willing to send us money to feed hungry infants, that's the easy stuff. Let's do that now," Senator Biss said.

A spokeswoman for the governor released a statement Friday, "the state lacks the appropriation authority to distribute those federal funds because (House) Speaker (Mike) Madigan and the legislators he controls passed an unbalanced budget..."

CEDA has already furloughed 200 officer workers and could lay off another 50 next week.

"They are children, women infants and children.... Nothing to do with the state of Illinois," Representative Mary Flowers said.

Representative Flowers and other lawmakers said as soon as next week they'll try to pass legislation to get federal monies through to CEDA. They worry the governor could veto whatever they pass as the budget stalemate continues in Springfield.