Illinois Braces for Closings and Layoffs

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Governor Pat Quinn said Thursday nearly 2,000 Illinois employees are losing their jobs. He's closing seven state facilities in mental health, developmental disabilities and corrections. Quinn is blaming lawmakers for cutting the budget more than $2 billion short.
"They've lined it out for each and every department and clearly it's insufficient in several major departments in our state in order to maintain existing facilities and existing personnel. So we have to take the action that we're taking today," said Governor Pat Quinn, D-IL.
The Jack Mabley Developmental Center in Dixon, IL is on the list. That means 163 employees will lose their jobs.
Families with a relative at the Mabley Center will be forced to find them new care. State advocates for people with disabilities said change will be difficult for the 91 adult residents living there and their care takers. But they said it's part of a nation–wide trend to move them away from state institutions.