Thursday, April 22, 2010
 
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Advocate, union Capitol rally pressures lawmakers

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[April 22, 2010]  SPRINGFIELD -- Thousands of social service providers, teachers and union members gathered at the state Capitol on Wednesday to send an urgent SOS to state lawmakers.

Chanting "Save Our Schools," "Save Our Services" or "Save Our State," the estimated 15,000 protestors organized by public employee unions and other advocacy groups marched around and then inside the Illinois Capitol to challenge lawmakers to stop the potential budget cuts to human services programs and schools across the state.

The crowd also urged support for Gov. Pat Quinn's proposed 33 percent income tax increase, estimated to bring in $2.8 billion annually, that could blunt $1.3 billion in education cuts in a state budget that's $13 billion in the hole.

Several lawmakers have said the rally offered a good option for residents to express their anger toward state government, but they acknowledged the large crowd probably won't change their vote.

Advocates and teachers' unions said that's not enough.

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Maria Whelan, president of Illinois Action for Children, said lawmakers can't leave Springfield in early May and expect people to be satisfied.

Speaking from an outside stage set up near the Capitol, Whelan asked everyone in the crowd to "scream" to their lawmakers to raise their taxes in order to pay for schools and social services across the state.

"We will not allow the General Assembly to balance this budget on the backs of the poor, the frail elderly, young children (and) schoolteachers," Whelan said. "We will not allow it."

Ed Geppert, president of the Illinois Federation of Teachers, echoed Whelan's call to action, saying the state's children and elderly should not be punished for inaction at the Capitol. He, too, put out the fervent plea to lawmakers to vote to stop cuts and increase the income tax.

"We cannot stand by and watch our children's education or our seniors be harmed by inaction in this capitol," Geppert said. "The time for our lawmakers to talk is over. It's time for them to act. We need it now."

AFSCME Director Henry Bayer, a former teacher, told participants the state has already suffered too many job cuts. The leader of the union for state, county and municipal employees said the recession has created long lines at the unemployment office, as well as economic hardship and anxiety among Illinoisans.

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He then turned his words to members of the General Assembly, telling legislators they can't leave Springfield in early May without fixing the budget.

"The problem is these 177 people who do have a job, don't want to do their job," Bayer said. "And we're here to tell them today, 'Do your job!'"

Despite the huge crowd of people, chants and signs, some political observers believe the effort will turn out to be fruitless.

Chris Mooney, a University of Illinois at Springfield political science professor, said the rally does show lawmakers the passion and concern of the unions and advocates -- but not much else.

"One thing (the rally) does do -- it shows the lawmakers the intensity of the feeling of these people, and it does get their attention to that extent," Mooney said. "Is it going to change their minds necessarily, radically? No."

No lawmakers were invited to attend the rally, but advocates and union leaders did meet with legislators to discuss their "demands" after a march around the Capitol.

[Illinois Statehouse News; By ASHLEY BADGLEY]

  

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