Ask your legislators to vote NO on any budget that contains catastrophic cuts to human services!
Governor Pat Quinn’s proposed 2011 State of Illinois budget decreases expenditures by $2 billion, reducing human services by $243 million and education by $1.3 billion. Under this budget, the best-case scenario for Metropolitan Family Services is a reduction of $1.15 million, most of it coming from:
- Community mental health programs
- Early childhood education and community schools programs that Metropolitan provides in partnership with the Chicago Public Schools
The General Assembly adjourned on May 7 without a budget. They expect to be called back shortly to vote on new proposals. What’s at stake? How to fill the budget’s education hole. Some legislators want to increase borrowing. Others want a tax increase.
The threat is that the General Assembly will cut human services by 60% and use that money to fund education.
Between now and May 31 our goal is to mobilize as many people as possible to contact their legislators with the following message:
Vote NO to a budget with catastrophic cuts to human services!
What you can do
Contact your state legislators today and tell them to Vote NO! to a budget with catastrophic cuts to human services.
To find your legislators
- Click here or go to www.illinoispartners.org
- Click “taking action”
- Type in your home address (the site will provide the link)
- Link to your identified State Senator and State Representative
Email, mail, fax or phone
The most powerful message is one that comes from you to the state legislators who represent where you live. Whenever possible, use your personal email address and give your home address/phone for follow-ups.
Use the following as a guide:
I am a constituent of Senator ______________/Representative _____________ and I urge you, your colleagues and the state leadership to vote NO to catastrophic cuts to human services. Please do what you can to help secure the well-being of thousands of families throughout the state who need your help NOW.
Facebook
Post messages on your facebook page that express your support for human services. Ask your friends – target 10 – and ask them to do the same. We invite you also to say why human services are important to you on our facebook page!
You can also:
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“Like” other organizations’ pages that advocate no cuts to human services
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Voice your opinion on blogs which discuss the Illinois budget issue
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Post information about the budget with your friends via your wall
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Link to groups and pages that support funding for human services
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Inspire discussions regarding the drawbacks of human services cuts
Twitter
For those who tweet here are some messages to consider. Use them to inspire your own creativity and passion for protecting human services funding!
Human services are at stake!
Tell your state legislators to vote NO to big human services cuts!
- Legislators: Don’t come home without a budget that protects human services from catastrophic cuts!
- Borrowing will not solve the human services funding crisis! It will only further weaken Illinois and the problem will return next year!
- New revenue is needed to support human services!
- Moms who depend on daycare may lose their jobs if human services are cut! Tell your state legislators to vote NO on human services cuts!
- Mentally ill adults who are able to live in their communities are at risk if human services are cut! Tell your legislators NO to big cuts!
- Programs that fight elder abuse are at risk if human services budgets are drastically cut! Tell your legislators to vote NO!
- 400,000 Illinois jobs are linked to human services. More than 75% of these are funded through the State. Vote NO to big human services cuts!
- Do you want new expenses for your town, city or county? If not tell your state legislators to vote NO on big human services cuts!
Keep us posted!
Let us know about your efforts to contact legislators and voice your support for human services! Email us at contactus@metrofamily.org – please include ADVOCACY in the subject line.
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