More than 1,000 Chicago-area seniors and their allies took part in an act of civil disobedience today to push back against cuts to safety net programs, like Medicare and Social Security. The group rallied outside of the offices of U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin (D) and Mark Kirk (R) at Federal Plaza.
“I made the decision to participate in civil disobedience as an act of conscience," said Emily Byrd with the Jane Adams Senior Caucus (JASC). I could no longer stand idly by while vital safety net programs are in danger of being cut. What is at stake is not only seniors' ability to live with dignity and economic security, but the future of our country. I am here today to fight not just for seniors, but for my children and grandchildren.”
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The following is an op-ed from Celeste Meiffren, field director for Illinois PIRG.
While most of Illinois was taking in the 14-year prison sentence of disgraced former governor Rod Blagojevich, hundreds of other state residents were at the nation's capitol yesterday 
Last night, Illinois legislators joined their counterparts in the House to vote on the debt ceiling deal, which calls for cutting at least $2.1 trillion in spending over the next decade. The bill passed the House 269 to 161 and Illinois House members voted in a split fashion.