Issue Position: Investing in Our Seniors

Issue Position

Ann supports a long-term commitment to meeting the needs of senior citizens, who will make up an increasingly large segment of the state's population in the coming years. "Seniors are some of the most vulnerable among us," Ann said, "and one of the primary functions of government is to ensure that the vulnerable are protected. We owe a debt of gratitude to those who have come before us, those who have paved the way for the next generation to pursue its dreams. It's our duty to repay the elderly by doing everything possible so that they can live healthily, productively, and with dignity."

First and foremost, that involves maintaining a safety net that has become frayed in the state's current economic climate. Under Gov. Rauner, services for the elderly have eroded. A case in point is his administration's Community Reinvestment Program, which all but guts in-home and community care for tens of thousands of Illinois seniors. Rauner has also demonstrated a willingness to slash Medicaid, something Ann strongly opposes. "Medicaid is a lifeline for many of our seniors," Ann said. "There are ways to put the state on financially sound footing without eliminating essential programs and services for seniors, such as by rethinking our one-dimensional approach to taxation."

Additionally, Ann believes more must be done to address the problem of hunger among seniors. Food insecurity among the elderly in the 27th District is much more prevalent than many residents know. In many of the district's communities, at least 35 percent of seniors have used food stamps within the past year. Ann wants to shine a light on this issue, as well as many others relating to seniors, in order to keep the necessary programs and services fully funded. "Overall, we have a lot of work to do when it comes to seniors," Ann said. "From nursing home quality to community support for seniors, Illinois ranks dishearteningly behind the leading states. Our seniors deserve better."

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