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EDUCATION EMPLOYEES WILL BOARD BUSSES WEDNESDAY TO DELIVER AN SOS TO STATE LAWMAKERS
Pro-revenue Springfield rally could be biggest ever
April 19, 2010 – Springfield, IL – Thousands of education employees will head to Springfield Wednesday to participate in what might be the largest rally of its kind ever in the state capitol.
It’s estimated that more than 4,000 Illinois Education Association (IEA) members from throughout Illinois will participate in the SOS (Save Our Schools, Save Our State) rally, which is expected to draw as many as 15,000 participants.
The rally, sponsored by the Responsible Budget Coalition (RBC), is focused on convincing lawmakers to take action to end the state budget crisis. State government is facing a shortfall of $ 13 billion. Unless there is an increase in revenue, it is estimated as many as 20,000 education employees will be laid off, causing larger class sizes, the elimination of music, arts and sports programs in many districts and an overall decline in education quality statewide.
“Children throughout Illinois will be denied a top quality education by these drastic cuts,” said IEA President Ken Swanson. “We have a crisis that is on the brink of becoming a tragedy. The legislature must act now.”
Swanson said the best solution is for the Illinois House to pass HB 174, or something like it, which would provide a comprehensive tax reform measure. HB 174 cleared the Illinois Senate last spring but has not been voted on in the House.
“It will take revenue to save our schools and save our state,” Swanson said. “Our message to lawmakers is they must end the bad behavior that led to this crisis and address the revenue needs of the state.”
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