AFSCME testifies: Best jobs strategy -- raise revenues, close budget gap
In testimony before the Illinois General Assembly's bipartisan Jobs Creation Task Force, John Cameron, Council 31's political and community relations director, made a compelling argument that the best possible means of reducing the state's high unemployment rate is to pass the tax reform measures needed to close the state's enormous budget shortfall.
After detailing the tens of thousands of layoffs that will occur in school districts and local governments if there is no tax increase this year, Cameron told the task force members:
"The single most important state policy to retain and create jobs that the General Assembly can enact this year is to pass tax reform that raises enough revenue to pay the state’s outstanding bills, avoid those budget cuts and restore adequate levels of public services across Illinois."
