Illinois Representative Bill Mitchell paid a visit to the DeWitt County Friendship Center Friday morning and discussed the budget, seniors programs, and cuts.

The budget proposal has Illinois completely cutting the Illinois Cares Rx program. Mitchell calls this "an outrage" and feels it is not acceptable to cut this program but to continue to allow illegal immigrants to receive state money.

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Mitchell spent Friday raising awareness as to the ins-and-outs of the proposed budget from the Democratic majority in the Illinois House. According to Mitchell, he is raising awareness that it is cheaper to have a senior living independently with dignity rather than in a nursing home.

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Mitchell says Democrats are calling for Republicans who oppose their ideas to propose something different. Mitchell has a few ideas for a counter proposal.

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Mitchell does not believe this issue is not a Republican/Democrat issue. Mitchell points out a recent study by the Auditor General shows approximately 3-thousand families who do not live in the state of Illinois receive welfare checks. He calls it 'absurd' nothing will get done about that but seniors will continue to be the target of cuts in Springfield.