If there's one thing that can be gleaned from the ongoing budget
stalemate, it's that revenue isn't the only resource Illinois government
is short on these days. Leadership is tough to come by as well.
At midnight, the clock runs out on the current fiscal year. What next year's budget will look like remains an unknown. Meanwhile, state officials continue to perpetuate confusion and fear among many of the state's most vulnerable citizens -- the elderly, disabled, foster children -- who still have no idea if the crucial services that they rely on will vanish tomorrow.
"We will not forget," Action Now's Denise Dixon said of the lack of leadership during a protest outside Chicago's Thompson Center this afternoon. "Today is the day. Today is the deadline. We need to see something come out of Springfield that works for us." Watch her speech:
It wasn't just those lawmakers who voted against an income tax increase in May that were the target of the crowd''s angst today. Statewide officers such as Attorney General Lisa Madigan and Comptroller Dan Hynes were also singled out for failing to spend any political capital stumping for an income tax increase, even though it's the only sustainable solution to Illinois' financial crisis.
"We need leadership now," Chicago Coalition for the Homeless' Ed Shurna told us at the rally. "We don't want elected officials who only look to us when they're running for office and there's no controversy. If they want our votes they need to prove that they'll take control in a crisis."
Comments
Ellen Beth (not verified) on Tue, 06/30/2009 - 18:51
Angela, I think we're looking in the wrong places for leadership. Our elected officials are supposed to represent, we are supposed to lead. The problem is evident in the health care reform battle where members of both houses are so out of touch with what people want. A New York Times/CBS News poll found that 72 percent supported a government-administered plan like Medicare for those under 65. That's not some goofy public option with a bunch of corporate welfare for the insurance industry as is contained in the current House and Senate bills floating around. That is single payer, taken off the table by these so called leaders. So, what's the problem? It's us. For the mostpart, average people are not willing to fight for what they want. If you take a look at how Europeans got their health care, you'll see they demanded it. They didn't wait around for some politician who depends on lobbyist dollars for his or her job. Until Americans take the lead and stop relying on politicians, they'll be left behind.
markg8 on Wed, 07/01/2009 - 14:09
Ellen Beth I don't know what you're doing but we got 800 signatures on 57 pages of petitions at Heritage Fest in Downers Grove over the weekend to support the strongest public option we can get in the healthcare bill. Then Monday we took them to Judy Biggert and told her we wanted her to support the bill and hold an open townhall so we can get 1000 people there to tell her again.
I'd love to see single payer but it isn't gonna happen this year and we can't sit back and let the lobbyists write the bill. And make no mistake about it we're gonna get legislation. if you'd like the phone and fax numbers for most of the IL delegation and members of the Senate Finance Committee, HELP Committee, and the House Ways and Means go here:
http://www.dgdemocrats.com/
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