Excellent letter in today’s Chicago Tribune from a very diverse group of organizations.
.Letters to the editor are an excellent vehicle for expressing our advocacy. Write your
local newspaper today with your opinion on the budget tragedy here in Illinois.
Tony
Budget impasse We are calling for a meeting between the governor and the four
Illinois legislative leaders to discuss solutions for the current prolonged budget
impasse threatening our state.
This inaction is unprecedented and unacceptable to Illinois voters.
The Illinois Campaign for Political Reform along with Illinois Public Interest Research
Group and our other nonpartisan reform organizations want to help.
We are ready to facilitate the logistics of a meeting in either Chicago or Springfield
but believe that it must occur prior to Nov. 15 due to the urgent need for resolution on
this issue.
After more than 100 days of this stalemate, the consequences have become clear.
Illinois residents in serious need are unable to receive important government services,
and many non-profit organizations are unable to continue critically important work tied
to state grants. Illinois’ state universities and community colleges may not be able to
operate in the next semester of this academic year, leaving many students unable to
graduate on time.
The consequences are too great.
We cannot let this situation continue.
While leadership may not align on some core principles, we believe it is necessary for
them to meet together, work through these issues and agree on a budget.
Now is the time to act, before the consequences become even more dire. We extend
this offer with sincere concern for the citizens and the state of Illinois.
— Susan Garrett, board chair, Illinois Campaign for Political Reform
— Mary Kubasak, president, League of Women Voters of Illinois
— Hoy McConnell, executive director, Business and Professional People for the
Public Interest
— Maryam Judar, executive director, Citizen Advocacy Center
— George Ranney, chair, CHANGE Illinois
— Andy Shaw, president and CEO, Better Government Association
Tony Paulauski Executive Director
The Arc of Illinois
20901 S. LaGrange Rd. Suite 209
Frankfort, IL 60423
815-464-1832 (OFFICE)
815-464-1832 (CELL)
Tony@thearcofil.org
