West Central Reporter

For all the things about it he could see himself standing behind, veteran state Sen. Steve McClure (R-Springfield) argues Illinois simply can’t afford House Bill 158.

“My concern with this legislation is the fiscal impact,” McClure said during a Senate Floor debate about the newly passed legislation that creates the Community Health Worker Certification and Reimbursement Act along with establishing the Health and Human Services Task Force and Study Act, which has the job of reviewing health and human service departments.

“$12 billion would represent almost 30% of the governor's Fiscal Year 2022 general funds budget,” he added. “We can’t afford it and that’s what it comes down to.”

The legislation also seeks to launch the Anti-Racism Commission Act as a means of combating widespread racism in the system. Sen. Mattie Hunter, one of the chief sponsors of the bill, told colleagues several recent studies have found racism to be at the core of many of the health problems plaguing those in communities like hers.

“We experience more negative health incomes as a result of implicit biases,” she added.

With the bill set to take effect immediately by amending various acts regarding medical staff, including electronic posters and signs; N95 masks; continuing education on implicit bias awareness; overdoses; the Prescription Monitoring Program; a dementia training program; taxation of blood sugar testing materials; funding of safety-net hospitals and a Child Care Assistance Program Eligibility Calculator, McClure simply can’t see how it works for Illinois, particularly at this point and time.

“We’re still in rough financial shape right now,” he said. “There are some really good things in this bill but unfortunately I would urge a no vote because we can’t afford it.”