That's how many people the Responsible Budget Coalition is hoping to see at an April 21 rally in Springfield in support of House Bill 174.  AFSCME Council 31 spokesperson Anders Lindall told the State Journal-Register that it could be the biggest public rally in the city's history.  Indeed, 15,000 people would surpass the number that showed up for the kickoff of Barack Obama's presidential campaign in February 2007.

More from Lindall:

“What is really important, more than the particular number,” he said, “is that lawmakers feel the tremendous pain that the budget crisis is inflicting on their constituents in every part of the state and the real sense of disappointment and anger people feel at the inaction by legislators to fix the problem.”