Citizen Action Launches Ad In Support Of Senate Tax Plan

Pressure is mounting on lawmakers to reach some agreement on the state's budget deficit. With the state facing massive social service cuts, Gov. Pat Quinn has already vetoed what he considered an underfunded social service appropriations bill and an overfunded operating budget. An override of the latter is possible, as Sen. James Meeks noted in the SouthtownStar today. But even if that portion of the budget is ultimately approved, deep cuts would still be required unless the General Assembly agreed on a new source of revenue (i.e. an income tax increase).

Of course, the Meeks tax plan (HB 174) that passed the Senate in late May is still sitting on the table. And Citizen Action/Illinois is using the airwaves to remind certain legislators of that fact. Beginning today, the group is running television ads on cable stations in 21 Illinois House districts asking "key representatives" to support HB 174, calling it "a responsible solution to addressing the long-term structural deficit in Illinois while providing relief from regressive taxation." Watch it (this version targets Rep. Donald Moffitt):

Below is the full list of targeted lawmakers:

Daniel Beiser (D-Alton)
Mike Bost (R-Carbondale)
John Bradley (D-Marion)
Rich Brauer (R-Springfield)
John Cavaletto (R-Salem)
Lisa Dugan (D-Kankakee)
Roger Eddy (R
-Hutsonville)
Robert Flider (D-Decatur)
Careen Gordon (D-Coal City)
Jay Hoffman (D-Collinsville)
Thomas Holbrook  (D-Belleville)
Bill Mitchell (R-Forsyth)
Jerry Mitchell (R-Rock Falls)
Donald Moffitt (R-Galesburg)
Brandon Phelps (D-Harrisburg)
Raymond Poe (R-Springfield)
Robert Pritchard (R-Sycamore)
Dan Reitz (D-Sparta)

Chapin Rose (R-Charleston)
Jil Tracy (R-Quincy)
Jim Watson (R-Jacksonville)

Comments

I urge you all to support HB 174 and consider all the dedicated people you will be supporting. The people that work in the social services do it for the love of who they serve and what they are committed to. They do it to help others and make a difference in the world around us. They don't do it for huge paychecks but they deserve to make a living while helping others and not having to worry about massive job cuts in a realm of society that most needs the help during these difficult times.

With this massive recession we are more in need than ever of Social Services and the people who work for them.
Please recognize the incredible value they bring to our society and the well being of others by supporting this bill.

Thank you.

This House BIll is still strongly supported by the public, we know the only solution is to raise revenues. I personaly, do not want to sacrafice my families safety to keep a fer dollars in my paycheck. The ony way to keep the payback shared and fair, is to increase income taxes, then all workers pay equally. I do not want to see any agency cut or anybody to lose their job, the state and local economy depends on these people working.. I strongly disagree that our officers of the state be threatened to be laid off, we need all of them, our corrections officers, state police, and parole officers, these men and womken keep us safe, and I disagree with the notion of having a countless number of inmates realeased early as well.
I hope that all of our state officials and lawmakers take a long hard look at the bill, and come to the agreement that an income tax increase is in the best intrest of the people at this point. Please call special session and help fix this mess, better late than never. Get these workers back to work, and stop the layoffs, HIRE NOT FIRE!

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