Download the "Who Will You Cut" graphic as a PDF below or click on image to download JPG.
Continue the Fight To Stop an Irresponsible State Budget!
Although the Illinois General Assembly passed a state budget on July 15 the state is in no way in the clear when it comes to providing sufficient funding for health and human services. In fact, the newly approved plan will borrow billions of dollars to fill a billion-dollar budget hole. For the hundreds of health and human service programs and agencies, it also means the state may or may not pay money already owed to them. Additionally, the legislature has given itself a reprieve from coming up with a viable solution when it’s needed: NOW.
The General Assembly has given complete power to Governor Quinn to decide where the next round of cuts will be made and how deep they will be. Call, email or fax Governor Quinn today and everyday and tell him to prioritize health and human services. Over the coming months we encourage everyone to meet continually with legislators to show them how important these programs are to their community and the importance of full and stable funding. Click here to reach Gov. Pat Quin.
Thousands of United Way agency partners, donors, supporters and the general public have rallied behind us in support of fair and equitable funding for human services, and for that we are thankful. Thanks to your support and intense outreach to your state legislators, our voices were heard, but our work needs to continue.
Call your State Senator and State Representative
and urge them to pass a responsible budget.
United Way is calling on its supporters to help the millions of people who will be directly impacted by this budget. The five minutes it takes you to call your State Senator and State Representative and urge them to pass a responsible budget will help change the lives of millions. Working together, we can make a difference: that’s the United Way.
Find your State Representative
Find your State Senator
How do I find my district?
Download state legislators’ email addresses
Contact your legislators on Twitter and Facebook
Phone toll-free by entering your zip code to select your Senator and Representative: 888-616-3322
We are making it simple for you to contact your lawmakers. Materials available for your use include:
A sample phone script when you call your legislators
A sample letter to email or fax State Senators or Representatives
A fact sheet that outlines the likely consequences of the current budget
A handout for you to pass out to friends and family or at public events
Trackbacks/Pingbacks
[...] We continue to urge all Illinois residents to reach out to their lawmakers and urge them to find a way to resolve this stalemate that can have serious repercussions on the well-being and stability of people throughout this state. It is not too late to contact your State Representative and/or Senator. We have made it easy for you. Click here to ACT NOW. [...]
[...] We continue to urge legislators in Springfield to do their job and create a solid budget that leaves no one behind. We also urge them to be clear and transparent when communicating the results of the current Springfield session. All Illinois residents have a stake in this budget, and as it stands right now human services is not only lacking funding but direction on how to proceed. Please continue to reach out to your State Representative and Senator. Click here to ACT NOW. [...]
[...] to ACT NOW to see what you can [...]
[...] While the findings from the survey are still preliminary, the results are clear; proposed state budget cuts will eliminate crucial services to people in need, devastate the health and human services infrastructure built over several decades, and place thousands of more displaced agency workers on the unemployment rolls. United Way will conclude the survey and report its findings later this month. In the meantime, United Way continues to urge state lawmakers to pass a fair budget with adequate funding for health and human services when they reconvene in Springfield this week. For more information go to ACT NOW. [...]