MARION - Area social service directors will meet with State Reps. John Bradley, D-Marion, Brandon Phelps, D-Harrisburg and Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro this afternoon in Marion to discuss proposed budget reductions by the governor to community-based social services.

Today's conference is set for 2 p.m. at center court of the Illinois Centre Mall. John Markley, CEO with Franklin-Williamson Human Services in West Frankfort and Marion, will be joined by Karen Freitag, CEO with Southern Illinois Regional Social Services; Mickey Finch, CEO with The Fellowship House; Angie Hampton, CEO with Egyptian Public and Mental Health and John Venskus, CEO with the Perry County Counseling Center.

Those participating at the conference will be calling for the House of Representatives to override the governor's budget and restore funding to last year's levels. The governor's proposed budget reductions would cut more than $55 million from the state-funded substance abuse prevention and treatment system. It would also eliminate $55 million in federal matching funds, reducing the state's substance abuse prevention and treatment budget by 56 percent.