Reduced eligibility for child care assistance is one of many areas where U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin disagrees with Gov. Bruce Rauner.

While visiting Breakthrough Family Plex, which offers child care in Chicago, Durbin was told under Rauner’s changes to the Child Care Assistance Program, a single parent earning anything above $664 per month no longer qualifies for this state aid. He calls Rauner’s position “totally unrealistic.”

“You wonder why these children don’t get off to a good start. They need to be in a good, safe, nurturing environment from the beginning,” Durbin said. “Some moms, some dads have to work, it’s just the reality of life, and so, when you cut back daycare assistance, you really put these kids at risk.”

An estimated 90 percent of parents who would’ve qualified under the old rules are now no longer eligible for child care assistance.

Durbin has been critical of Rauner on issues like collective bargaining, so-called “right-to-work” zones, and on his handling of the state budget stalemate.

“This notion that he has to have it his way, his formula, has led us to a terrible position,” Durbin said.