Haine talks health care, budget at senior meet and greet

ALTON, IL - Senator Bill Haine (D-Alton) spoke to a crowd of over 40 Metro East-area citizens on Thursday, answering questions on a variety of topics at the Senior Services Plus Center in Alton.

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“I was extremely pleased to meet with local seniors, listen to their concerns and provide answers to their questions during this tough economic time,” Haine said.

Haine discussed the recently passed budget, noting the tough choices that had to be made, presenting a way forward in Illinois to address the fiscal crisis.

“We passed reforms to our pension system, which will save Illinois over a quarter of a trillion dollars in liabilities over time,” Haine stated. “We reigned in spending by cutting the Governor’s budget by $2 billion and instituted Budgeting for Outcomes provisions that balanced the budget’s general fund deficit.”

Haine also fought to protect services for seniors on a fixed income during the spring legislative session.

“The Governor’s budget zeroed out the state’s Circuit Breaker program that helps cover costs of prescriptions. Seniors contacted my office and I worked to make sure the funding for that program was saved,“ Haine stated. “We must continue to fund the issues and services most essential to our seniors.”

On health care, Haine talked about House Bill 1577, which will set up a state health insurance exchange for individuals to shop around for private plans.

“With this bill, we will be able to craft a health exchange that is entirely unique to Illinois,” Haine stated. “We want to take a free-market approach that will help lower premiums.”