Area residents and child care providers are calling on Governor Rauner to protect funding amid looming cuts. East Peoria resident Erica Atherton says her daughter has a genetic disorder that requires a wheelchair. She says they've been waiting nine months for a new wheelchair due to frozen Medicaid payments:
"There's things that they can take money from. Why does it have to be education, why does it have to be the special needs? They go through enough."
The event was part of a statewide effort organized by the Service Employees International Union.