During a capital budget hearing in Chicago this morning, members of the Campaign for Illinois' Future (CIF) -- a coalition of community groups and labor organizations -- gave state lawmakers an earful about the need to level the tax burden and stand up to some of the budget cuts proposed by Gov. Pat Quinn.

While "the conversation is just starting," Action Now director Denise Dixon tells us that the rally was a chance to show lawmakers that "we're watching ... We want to make sure the [budget] process is fair, open and transparent."

At the top of the coalition's agenda is the adoption of a progressive tax structure to curtail the state's structural budget problems. Specifically, they want to see a higher income tax rate for the wealthiest Illinoisans, an increase in the standard exemption for the Earned Income Tax credit (ETIC), and the creation of a child tax credit. Quinn's plan to raise the state income tax rate to 4.5 percent while tripling the personal exemption is a start, CIF members say. But Dixon cautions that the governor's plan "still has to get hashed out."

In the meantime, the CIF coalition is keeping a close eye on funding for in-home health care and child care assistance, which organizers say could face a combined $90 million shortfall next year. Advocates are worried that lawmakers might further cut social service budgets and those concerns are certainly legitimate. Even before the state's deficit reached $12.4 billion, it was the sectors they have identified  -- health care, education, and social services -- that bore the brunt of the state's dysfunction, namely through lengthy reimbursement delays.

CIF members say today's rally was merely a prelude to their budget fairness campaign. Next up is an April 22 advocacy day in the Springfield, during which they plan to have 1,000 citizen lobbyists at the capitol.

(Full Disclosure: SEIU Healthcare Illinois/Indiana is a member of the Campaign for Illinois' Future.  The SEIU Illinois State Council sponsors this website.)