SPRINGFIELD - From foster parents facing rising food and fuel costs to the future of Illinois state parks, groups began stepping forward Monday to lobby against budget cuts made last week by Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

In his on-going battle with the Illinois House, the governor last week pared $1.4 billion from the state's spending plan in an attempt to bring it into balance.

The move, however, will hurt some of the state's most vulnerable people and places, advocates said.

For example, the governor reduced funding for drug and alcohol abuse treatment programs, potentially affecting 42,000 people who participate in the counseling. The price tag: $55 million.

Peggy Powers, of the Illinois Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Association, called the cuts "horrifically devastating."

Also coming under fire is the governor's decision to cut $45 million that helps finance foster care for the state's 16,000 abused and neglected children.

Marge Berglind of the Child Care Association of Illinois said the cut will put the state in jeopardy of losing federal funding because caseworkers will have too many children to oversee.

The cuts also will mean the loss of cost-of-living increases for foster parents, who had lobbied for the added cash to cope with rising food and fuel expenses.

"Foster parents will have a harder time feeding the children," Berglind said.

Environmental activists also are sounding alarms about cuts at the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

The governor cut DNR programs by $14 million, spurring worries that the move could force the department to close some facilities.

Blagojevich spokeswoman Katherine Ridgway said it's too early to tell what could happen with state parks.

"The agency is still putting together its plan to work within its new budget," Ridgway said.

On Tuesday, the Illinois House returns to begin sifting through the various cuts in order to determine which ones they'd like to restore.

Lawmakers also are expected to discuss shifting some cash out of special state funds to help offset the budget gap.

Details of what cuts might be dealt with by the House were not available Monday.

"We're still actually developing it," said state Rep. Gary Hannig, a Litchfield Democrat who is a point man in the House for budget issues.

Hannig said he doesn't believe the House will attempt to restore all of the money cut by Blagojevich.

"I don't think it will be everything. There's a lot there," Hannig said.

Action in the House, however, may not save any programs. The Senate hasn't made any plans to return to town to take up the governor's cuts.

State Rep. Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro, blamed the impasse on infighting among the state's top Democrats.

"They can't work together," Bost said.