As thousands of phone calls and emails flooded the statehouse last week calling for a responsible budget, the General Assembly left Springfield unwilling to agree on a series of irresponsible funding measures. This has at least temporarily averted approval of a budget that hurts education, health and human services, eliminates jobs and cuts supports for workers and job seekers.
We must ensure that policymakers now take-up the only responsible option for mitigating harmful cuts in schools and human services, paying our bills and putting our state back on track to stability: the revenue framework of House Bill 174.
TAKE ACTION THIS WEEK
Legislators are back home in their district offices, and we need to use this window of opportunity to tell them about the need to approve more adequate revenues to avoid devastating cuts in many essential public services.
- Call your legislators, using this toll-free number: 1-800-719-3020 (thanks to the Illinois AARP for generously providing phone lines). Tell lawmakers, “Raise the new revenues needed to prevent devastating cuts in vital public services. Approve the revenue framework of House Bill 174.”
- Visit your legislators in their district offices, letting them know their constituents are paying attention and are asking them to pass a responsible budget.
- Write to your legislators, using the Responsible Budget Coalition’s new email tool.
Contact Jennifer Becker Mouhcine for more information or any assistance you may need to make sure your voice is heard before legislators return to Springfield.