Congresswoman Bustos Statement on Governor Rauner's Decision to Eliminate nearly 200 Jobs in Henry County by Closing the Kewanee Youth Center

Statement

Today, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17) voiced extreme disappointment with Governor Bruce Rauner's decision to close the Illinois Youth Center at Kewanee and eliminate the nearly 200 jobs at the facility.

"Governor Rauner's decision to ignore the recommendation of a bipartisan commission of experts and eliminate 200 jobs in Henry County is devastating for this community," said Congresswoman Cheri Bustos. "We had an opportunity to raise the bar by providing the highest quality care for the kids at this facility however Governor Rauner refused to give nearly 200 hard working men and women at the Kewanee Center a chance. My heart breaks for the families who are losing their jobs."

Last week, the bipartisan Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability voted by a 6-5 majority to recommend keeping the Illinois Youth Center at Kewanee open.

On April 18, before the vote, Bustos wrote to the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability to recommend keeping the facility open while working to bring it up to the highest standards possible.

Source