HERRIN - Where's the pork? State Rep. John Bradley, D-Marion, said Monday at a press conference at Herrin City Hall that none of the projects in his district deleted from the state budget by Gov. Rod Blagojevich would classify as pork projects and should not have been given the ax.

"How about the Meals on Wheels program for the elderly in Williamson County?" he said. "Is that a pork project? Or what about Franklin and Williamson County CASA? Or the Williamson County Child Advocacy Center?"

Bradley said a whopping $650,000 in funding for Williamson and Franklin County projects was whacked out of the budget.

Bradley said it was important to "put a face" on the impact of the cuts. To that end, he invited the directors and board members of several area agencies that have been victimized by the paring down of the budget.

The Court Appointed Special Advocates programs in Williamson and Franklin counties and Child Advocacy Center in Herrin, for example, were cut $10,000 each. The Roan Center in West Frankfort, which will house an emergency shelter for abused, neglected and/or abandoned children, lost $22,500 in funding.

The city of Herrin missed out on $50,000 for new city vehicles and equipment, while the city of Marion lost $80,000 for community development projects. Franklin County also had its $120,000 funding cut for community development.

"I want everyone to see the faces of the people and communities affected by these cuts," Bradley said. "When political games are played, there are real-life consequences."

Mariah Hayes, director for Franklin County CASA, said she had planned to use the $10,000 in state funding to hire a part-time recruiter of child advocates.

"We have 20 volunteers in our organization at present," she said. "And we need an additional 20 to help with all the casework. Now, it falls back on me again to search for volunteers. Unfortunately, I'm already responsible for fundraising, grant writing and public relations."

Former state representative Jim Rea, who serves as a member of the CASA board, said it disappoints him to see such important projects lose their state funding.

"Regardless of who was the governor in years past, projects that benefit children and the elderly have always been approved. When I go to Springfield anymore, all I ever see is partisan politics. And that's disappointing to me."

Kathy Schimpf, executive director for the Williamson County Child Advocacy Center in Herrin, said she would have used the $10,000 it has lost to provide more counseling to children in need.

"This is a real blow to us," she said. "I just hope we don't lose any additional funding. I think we could have swallowed this a little easier if the cuts were fair and equitable rather than pick and choose. It's pretty obvious that if you're on the wrong legislator's list, your project is considered pork."

For the second day in a row Monday, the governor spent the day at the Governor's Mansion on the grounds of the Du Quoin State Fair.

Blagojevich spokeswoman Abbey Ottenhoff said the governor was spending the day in meetings and with his family. Ottenhoff said she did not know who the governor was meeting with.

- Reporter Blackwell Thomas contributed to the story.

john.homan@thesouthern.com / 351-5805

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State budget cuts specific to Rep. John Bradley's district:

United Way of Southern Illinois, including Coats for Kids and after-school programming at the Zeigler-Royalton school district ($50,000)

Franklin County, including FREDCO and Franklin County CASA ($120,000)

City of Benton, including the public library ($30,000)

City of West Frankfort, including the Roan Center, aquatic center and historical museum ($37,500)

City of Christopher ($25,000)

City of McLeansboro, including the senior center ($33,860)

McLeansboro Township ($25,000)

City of Marion, including the park district, Khoury League baseball fields and Greater Marion Area Chamber of Commerce ($80,000)

City of Herrin ($50,000)

Regional Economic Development Corporation ($30,000)

Williamson County, including historic jail, coroner's office, Child Advocacy Center, CASA and the tourism bureau ($63,640)

Williamson County Programs on Aging ($20,000)

City of Carterville ($35,000)

City of Johnston City ($25,000)

Marion Senior Citizens ($25,000)

Total: $650,000