Our legislators are back in Springfield this week to deal with the state budget crisis. If nothing is done with the budget programs will be closed such as homeless shelters, mental health programs, libraries and many more. If those programs close not only the residents who benefit from them will be affected, but also the staff. This will have a disparate impact on residents with disabilities and low-income residents who are often members of protected classes. The budget shortfall will keep expanding every year if we do nothing.
We can't cut our way out of a $12 billion shortfall - the budget hole that's forecast for the next fiscal year. The $1 billion in cuts we've already experienced this year have caused devastation to many children, families and people with disabilities in IL. What we don't commit to today - good healthcare, early learning and other educational opportunities, child care and other human services for working families and people with disabilities - will cause more harm by costing us even more in the future. We must focus on fixing the real problem: inadequate revenues. House Bill 174 makes dramatic progress in closing the budget shortfall, and we must make progress today. The longer we put off tough decisions, the deeper the hole and the bigger the problem we leave for our children.
Our North Suburban legislators are key votes to help pass this bill it is imperative that we all contact them. Please click here for further information about the Responsible Budget Coalition.
We can make a difference!!!
On May 26, 2010 call your legislators using AARP's toll free number, 1.800.719.3020.
Use this message when you call in:
The state budget is slashing jobs, schools, and vital services in a terrible recession just when our families need them the most.
If you do nothing, tens of thousands of teachers will be laid off, hundreds of thousands of seniors will loose their care, and hundreds of police will be taken off our streets. Libraries will close, community-based agencies serving the most vulnerable Illinois residents will slash programs or shut their doors, and tens of thousands of jobs will be lost.
I know that raising taxes is politically unpopular, but if you do nothing it will cost the residents of IL even more. Please protect the residents of IL.
