Rally 'Round The Children
Humbolt Park protest calls on Legislators to not cut child care funding
Charlie Wojciechowski
Activists gathered downtown last week to push the same agenda.
A rally is planned in Humboldt Park today in support of state child care programs that could face major funding cuts in the state's budget struggle.
"Social service programs statewide will take a serious financial hit unless a tax increase is passed by the Illinois Legislature," the Sun-Times reported relative to a
The child care programs are just a piece of the pie that's at stake as the Legislature returns to work this week to address a massive budget deficit that threatens to drastically cut programs to the poor.
Today's rally, organized by the office of State Rep. Cynthia Soto. Gov. Pat Quinn is expected to attend, as a large crowd gathers to protest what could be up to a 75% cut throughout the state.
Democrats are pushing an income tax increase to help fill what Quinn says is a $9 million budget deficit, the paper reports.
"Human services agencies ... will be devastated if these cuts remain in the budget," a news release from Soto's office stated.
That's the message the rally is trying to get across as well, as protesters encourage lawmakers to vote for an income tax hike, as recommended by the governor.
The rally is set to begin at 9:30 a.m.
If the proposed cuts occur, the release states that the consequences would include:
- 885, 000 immigrants would be without ESL (English as a Second Language), job training and citizenship classes;
- 80,000 low-income working mothers would lose child care services allowing them to keep their jobs;
- 463,000 children and teens would lose critical services in areas such as substance abuse, teen pregnancy, violence and delinquency;
- As well as drastic cuts to veteran's care, seniors, health care, and violence prevention
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