 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.
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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