Shouts of unity, chants against an immoral budget and a kaleidoscope of signs graced the James R. Thompson Center Plaza on July 22 as 200 people gathered to lambast Governor Bruce Rauner and the Illinois state legislature for not yet passing a budget in the state.
The shouting wasn't relegated to the Thompson Center, though. Online, #PositiveBudgetIL was trending on Twitter among...
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by Megan Moran, development assistant
Not many people have sat face-to-face with Governor Bruce Rauner since his January 2015 inauguration and been offered the chance to represent their community in conversation with him. But Roy Ballesteros did — and he has done so much more on behalf of the HIV community in Springfield this spring.
Ten years ago, Ballesteros wouldn't have...
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Today, the United States Supreme Court ruled to allow the continuation of federal subsidies through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to help people across the U.S. afford health insurance. The landmark case of King v. Burwell was decided on a vote of 6-3, with Chief Justice John Roberts writing the majority opinion. The AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) is elated that the court has ruled to continue...
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On July 1, Illinois state government will shut down if the General Assembly and Governor Bruce Rauner cannot come to an agreement on a budget.
This could mean a grim future for people with HIV in Illinois, as programs like the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) might shut down.
ADAP provides lifesaving HIV medications to low-income people living with HIV. The number of people...
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The regular legislative session has ended. The session is going into overtime, due to our elected officials’ inability to compromise and pass a fair budget or seriously consider new sources of revenue for the state. Despite this partisan gridlock, the AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) and HIV advocates from all over the state have accomplished some amazing work this session! We celebrate...
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The AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) calls Illinoisans to stand together as one voice to demand that Illinois Pass a Positive Budget and find new sources of revenue to fix our state budget shortfall. Join the AFC , IIRON and other community organizations who are a part of the Responsible Budget Coalition as we gather in downtown Chicago every other Monday for Chicago’s Moral Mondays...
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Each year, May 31 marks the end of the Spring Legislative Session. Typically, Illinois’ House, Senate and governor come to an agreement on a state budget and any substantive changes that will go into effect at the beginning of the new fiscal year on July 1.
This May 31, however, was anything but typical.
The House and Senate last week passed budgets for state agencies...
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This article is the third in AFC’s Cuts to the Cascade series, which focuses on the people, programs and communities representing columns of the HIV treatment cascade . All of the Cuts to the Cascade subjects are under threat of losing vital state support as a result of Governor Rauner’s proposed cuts to the Illinois budget.
Behind thirty front doors...
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This article is the second in AFC’s Cuts to the Cascade series, which focuses on the people, programs and communities representing columns of the HIV treatment cascade . All of the Cuts to the Cascade subjects are under threat of losing vital state support as a result of Governor Rauner’s proposed cuts to the Illinois budget.
As Illinois legislators...
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This week marks Governor Bruce Rauner’s 100th day in office. The AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) has issued a “report card” grading his work on issues affecting those living with and vulnerable to HIV during his first 100 days .
In Illinois, less than 50% of people living with HIV are linked to care and virally suppressed. HIV continues to ravage communities of...
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