Rally rocks capitol

More than 3,000 determined citizens -- including hundreds of AFSCME members -- packed the State Capitol rotunda on Feb. 17 to demand swift legislative action to address the state’s budget woes.

The rally, sponsored by the Responsible Budget Coalition, urged legislators to enact HB 174, legislation that would raise new revenues to help close Illinois’ enormous budget deficit. Without such action, the state won’t be able to pay its bills and many vital programs will be cut back or eliminated.

The Illinois Senate has already passed HB 174, the most viable tax plan now before the General Assembly. But the votes aren’t there yet in the House of Representatives. That’s why it’s critical that AFSCME members keep the heat on their state representatives.

Elected officials have to know that we will hold them accountable if state government can’t meet its obligations to citizens and employees. State universities, nonprofit agencies and local government all have a big stake in this battle because state funding is critical to their own fiscal stability.

Click here for a fact sheet on HB174.