Around 3,000 Illinois residents affiliated with the Responsible Budget Coalition are rallying in Springfield this morning to advocate in favor of comprehensive tax reform. Yesterday, religious leaders from Protestants for the Common Good laid the groundwork for the lobby day by delivering 1,000 letters to state lawmakers urging them to address the state budget crisis immediately. "This is a moral, not just a fiscal crisis." said Alexander Sharp, the organization's executive director. "We are committing slow-motion violence on children, on the elderly, on the mentally ill, and on the disabled."

Watch his introductory remarks below:

Full Disclosure: The SEIU Illinois State Council, which sponsors this website, is a member of the Responsible Budget Coalition.