Broad coalition launches statewide campaign in support of a fair budget that supports economic recovery, protects Illinois’ working families from cuts to vital state jobs and services

March 19, 2009

Springfield – The Campaign for Illinois’ Future – a growing coalition of community organizations, advocacy groups, labor unions and working families representing more than 250,000 Illinois citizens – launched a statewide campaign today to educate Illinois voters about the state’s budget crisis and urge the General Assembly to pass a budget that protects Illinois’ working families.

“This state budget crisis is impacting everything from child care, health care and schools to our state parks and universities,” said Michelle Wright, owner and director of Michelle’s Place, a preschool and child care center in Cahokia. “Every state agency and service that Illinois citizens depend on is at risk if elected officials fail to pass a budget that is fair to working families.”

“We applaud Gov. Quinn for his political courage in proposing an increase in the state income tax rate and tripling the personal exemption to add fairness to the tax system. His call for new revenue and tax fairness is a critical step in getting Illinois through this crisis. The fact is, we simply cannot cut our way out of this and continue to provide for the education, health and safety of Illinois citizens. We need to prevent devastating cuts to these services by finding a substantial, long-term revenue solution,” said Dan Lesser, senior attorney at the Sargent Shriver Center for Poverty Law.

The state’s $11.5 billion budget deficit and unprecedented payment delays have already left many families struggling to get the quality health care, education, and vital public services they count on in tough economic times. Deep budget cuts would put services for these families in greater jeopardy while threatening critical workforces throughout the state.

“Cutting our way out of this crisis isn’t a solution. It’s a recipe for disaster that would weaken our communities and leave families even more vulnerable during this crisis,” said Patty Gallegos, community activist and member of the Brighton Park Neighborhood Council. “Illinois needs significant new revenue to fix our broken system and ensure Illinois families are protected from devastating cuts – and that’s what we will be educating Illinois families and lawmakers about throughout this campaign.”

The coalition announced its plan to reach out to communities throughout the state to stress what’s at stake for Illinois’ working families through town hall meetings, direct mail, phone banks, community forums, door-to-door canvassing and e-organizing. The Campaign for Illinois’ Future has launched a website (www.campaignforillinoisfuture.org) that will serve as both a public source for information and news on the state’s budget crisis and its impact on working families, in addition to providing tools for Illinois residents to send a message to their legislators about the need for a lasting solution to the structural deficit.

“Making sure that the voices of working people impacted by this crisis are heard by the public and Illinois lawmakers will be a major part of this campaign,” said Trinidad Sanchez, a member of the Illinois Hunger Coalition. “There needs to be a clear understanding that the state is facing a critical choice between cutting the programs working families depend on and generating enough new revenue to fix the structural deficit and protect vital services once and for all.”

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