ACTION ALERTS

League of Women Voters^®
of the Homewood-Flossmoor Area

Take action now!

Virtual Lobby Day. SOS. Health Care Legislation - Act TODAY. Illoinois Fair Map Amendment. February 10, 2010. February 5, 2010. Campaign Contributions. January 12, 2010. 2010 Census. July 2009.

Virtual Lobby Day

Tell Your IL House Representative to Support HB 174 on May 3, LWVIL Virtual Lobby Day

To: All League Members
From: Nancy Marcus, President
Kim Reed, Issues VP
All Issues Specialists affecting Education, Health, Mental Health, Juvenile Justice, and Human Services.

Call, fax, or email your representative and IL House Leaders on May 3 and ask them to pass HB 174 this legislative session!

On April 21, fifteen thousand advocates for education and all services protecting Illinois citizens descended on the Capitol in Springfield to send a loud and clear message to the Legislature and the Governor: Drastic cuts to the budget are unacceptable and hurtful to all of Illinois' citizens. Pass HB 174.

We are asking you to keep the pressure on House members to pass HB 174. This is the tax reform bill that will protect low/moderate income workers and provide a needed revenue stream to pay for state services as well as begin to pay down the accumulated state debt.

How will we keep the pressure on? The Responsible Budget Coalition members will select a day to make calls to their representatives before the Legislature's dismissal. The League of Women Voters will be one of the organizations making calls, sending faxes, and emails on Monday, May 3rd, our virtual lobby day.
When? May 3rd, all day.
Why? This will be our last opportunity this Legislative session to let our Representatives know that we expect them to show the same resolve that the Senate did last May and PASS HB 174 THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

Talking points well as a Q and A on HB174 developed by the LWVIL, the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability, and the Better Funding for Better Schools Coalition can be found on http://www.lwvil.org . Please go to http://www.ilga.gov to read the bill and find your representative's contact information.

SOS

Save Our State!

What? On April 21st, The Responsible Budget Coalition and the Illinois Education Association will be joining together in a rally and march on Springfield. As Responsible Budget Coalition members, the LWVIL is urging each of our local Leagues to send as many participants as they can. Members and non-members alike are welcome to attend.

Why? Without intense lobbying efforts, it is unlikely HB 174 will be passed. Without HB 174, which offers a positive and sustainable move towards closing the $13 Billion budget gap for FY 2011, the state's obligations- education, human services, public safety, and health care- will be left without sufficient funds to provide services. In addition, Illinois will not be able to pay its accumulated bills and will most likely be forced to borrow again, leaving the state in an even riskier financial position with a shakier bond rating. There is also concern that the Legislature will attempt to pass a 50% budget again this year; with negative consequences for those who depend on state funds to provide services.

Who? The LWVIL is asking our members to lobby their own legislators. Some Leagues are in districts that have targeted legislators. We will be calling those League presidents to let them know their lobbying efforts are especially critical. Call your representative's assistant to make an appointment to see your rep. If you cannot get an appointment, you may print out the attached card to let your representative know your views and send it in to her or his office. Remember to bring photo ID to access the building.

How? We will be providing talking points about HB 174 and a Q&A sheet that will help you to understand and answer some of your legislator's concerns.

Where? The rally and march will take place in Springfield, April 21 beginning at 11:30 am. There are buses leaving from all over the state that you will be able to ride if you don't want to drive your own car. Please contact Claire McIntyre at issues@lwvil.org and she will find the closest bus location for you. For those of you who do plan to drive, it will be up to you to find a place to park.

No voice is too small. Please join us in Springfield on the 21st

Health Care Legislation - Act TODAY

We are so close to final action on health care reform legislation. With only a few days left before the vote, we cannot afford to sit back and wait. Please contact your Representative today and urge him or her to support comprehensive health care reform legislation. We have a real health care crisis in America and every voice counts. Please take action today.
League of Women Voters ACTION ALERT: Pass Strong Health Care Legislation Now!
The House of Representatives is poised to take final action on health care reform legislation in the next few days. If ever there was a time to let your Representative know of your support for comprehensive health care reform, this is it! Please contact your Representative today and urge him or her to vote for the legislation that is coming to the House floor that will establish comprehensive health care reform.
Contact your Representative now, by clicking here and entering your zip code. You can also call him or her at 202-225-3121. Tell your Representative to pass strong health care legislation NOW. The House is poised to vote on health care legislation that will extend coverage to tens of millions of uninsured Americans.
The federal government needs to take strong action to extend health care coverage and reduce health care costs for individuals, businesses and communities. The current state of health care in this country is unsustainable. America is facing a health care crisis caused by a combination of skyrocketing costs and an insurance system that leaves 47 million living day-to-day without coverage. The federal government needs to take strong action to reduce costs for individuals, businesses and communities. As a nation, we are spending $1 out of every $6 we earn on health care. Over the last three decades, increases in the amount spent on health care have consistently risen faster than wages and inflation. If nothing is done, we could be spending $3 trillion for health care by 2011 and $4.2 trillion by 2016.
We cannot afford to do nothing. If comprehensive and effective health care legislation is not passed now, more Americans will lose coverage, endangering both our economy and our health. TAKE ACTION

1. Contact your Representative now, by clicking here and entering your zip code. You may also call the Capitol Hill switchboard at 202-225-3121 and ask for your Representative. Tell your Representative to support comprehensive health care reform legislation.

2. Send this alert to other concerned citizens - your grassroots network, your friends and coworkers. Encourage them to contact their elected leaders.
BACKGROUND
Learn more about what the League is doing to support health care reform.
Sign up to receive Action Alerts directly by email. Don't miss an opportunity to take action! It's easy to sign up and the League will never share your email with others: https://member.lwv.org/Subscribe.asp.
For additional information, please contact LWVUS Grassroots Lobbyist Christina Vamvas at lobbying@lwv.org.
The Grassroots Lobby Corps / e-Activist List distribures action alerts from the League of Women Voters to help get the League's message to Congress. Join the Grassroots Lobby Corps and receive Action Alerts in your inbox.
Our mailing address is: 1730 M Street NW, Suite 1000 Washington, DC 20036
Our telephone: 202-429-1965
Copyright (C) 2010 League of Women Voters. All rights reserved.

Illoinois Fair Map Amendment

TO: ALL LEAGUE MEMBERS DATE: MARCH 19, 2010 FROM: NANCY MARCUS, PRESIDENT, LWVIL ILLINOIS FAIR MAP AMENDMENT REMINDER #2: Three Weeks to Go!
Carry a petition with you everywhere you go. Fold it gently, put it in your pocketbook, or back pocket. Then you will be ready to get signatures when you
· run into friends or neighbors
· stand in line at the grocery store
· stand in line anywhere
· sit with someone on the train or bus
· wait for any of your many meetings to start (or end)
· attend your place of worship
· host dinner parties
· go to someone else's dinner party
· drink coffee with a friend
· drink at the bar with a friend (yes, we heard this works, too!)
Please make sure those signing are registered voters who reside in the election authority stated on the petition.
Download Your Fair Map Amendment Petitions Now!
Click HERE to go directly to the petition page where you can select your county or city and download the appropriate petition. For additional information go to http://www.ilfairmap.com/
Thanks to all of you who have collected and/or are collecting signatures!

Illinois Fiscal Crisis - Support HB 174

Address the Illinois Budget Crisis -- Support HB 174
ACTION NEEDED: The General Assembly is making important decisions on the state budget and the future of Illinois right now. Contact your State Representative and Governor Quinn as soon as possible. The Senate passed HB 174 in May, so be sure to thank the senators who voted for the bill and ask them to continue to support it. You can also contact Speaker Madigan, Senate President Cullerton, House Minority Leader Cross, and Senate Minority Leader Radogno.

Insist that they protect students, families and communities from a ruinous state budget shortfall which is resulting in program cuts and eliminations and forcing some local governments and program providers to borrow money in order to pay their employees.

Urge them to support and pass HB 174. Passage of this bill would provide needed revenue to the state by increasing the personal income tax rate to at least 5 per cent. It also provides for needed tax reform, property tax credits and adds some progressivity to the current tax structure in the form of tax credits to low and moderate income families.

Ensure that Illinois will be able to pay for much needed services, including improvements in the way schools are funded.

BACKGROUND: HB 174 would increase the personal income tax by two percentage points, from 3% to 5%, and broaden the sales tax base to include 39 services commonly taxed in other states. It would raise the corporate income tax to 5% from 4.8 %. It would generate $5 to $6 billion in new revenues so the state could pay its bills.
The bill would double the income tax credit for property taxes paid by individuals and make it refundable. This credit would be capped at $1500. It would triple the value of the Earned Income Tax Credit and make other tax relief adjustments for middle- and lower-income taxpayers, who make up 60% of all income tax payers.
If HB 174 is passed, the new monies raised in Fiscal Year 2010 will be used to pay the state's bills. Starting in Fiscal Year 2011 and continuing thereafter, 33 and 1/3% of all new revenues generated from the tax increases in HB 174 will go to the Common School Fund (this new revenue for education must be added to the appropriation amount from the previous year). Similarly, commencing in FY 2011 and continuing each year thereafter, 16 and 2/3% of all new revenues generated from the tax increases in HB 174 will go to the Higher Education Fund. The rest of the new revenue from HB 174 will go to the State General Revenue Fund (GRF).
The LWVIL has supported HB 174 and its earlier version, SB 750, since it was introduced by Sen. James Meeks in 2004. Although HB174 has undergone some revisions, it still provides for schools and necessary services that serve children and families. It will improve the financial status of Illinois.
To learn more, study the following sources.
Center for Tax and Budget Accountability. http://www.ctbaonline.org.
Voices for Illinois Children, Budget & Tax Policy Initiative, http://www.voices4kids.org.
Responsible Budget Coalition, http://www.abetterillinois.com.
For the Senate vote tally on HB 174, http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/votehistory/96/senate/09600HB0174_05302009_051000A.pdf

Redistricting

For information on Redistricting, please click on the link below and plan on attending the February 17 meeting. http://hfarea.il.lwvnet.org/calendar.html Redistricting

Supreme Court Ruling

Urgent Alert Supreme Court Action
Make an emergency contribution today!The Supreme Court has made a tragic mistake.
Their decision last week in Citizens United v. FEC has created a new constitutional right for corporations to spend unlimited amounts of money to support or oppose candidates at every level of government. This throws out the protections against corporate and union spending in elections that have served our democracy for nearly a century. In doing so, the Court has ignored the best interests of the American public and our representative form of government. That's why I'm asking you to make an emergency contribution so we can fight back today. You may be asking, what does this all mean for me?

First: the Supreme Court ruling has given the green light for corporations to now intervene directly in elections -- from the local school board or zoning commission to Congress and the President of the United States -- taking the power away from average voters like you and me.

Second: corruption could skyrocket out of control -- now that the Court has allowed unlimited corporate and union expenditures, the power of well-paid lobbyists linked with those interests will vastly increase.

Through our 90-year history, the League has fought to ensure that voters are at the center of our political process. Now we must work harder than ever before to elevate citizen voices above those of special interests and corporations. Right now, the stakes could not be higher for people like you and me who care about open, honest government and a healthy democracy. The upcoming 2010 Census and quickly-approaching mid-term elections will shape the political landscape for the next decade -- the outcome of both must reflect the diversity of our nation and NOT the pocketbooks of corporations. We will continue to fight, despite this devastating blow to the principles protecting American democracy. And we need you with us more than ever. As a leader in the ongoing fight to make our democracy as vibrant as ever, we will not stop, we will not give up, and we will not give in. If ever there was a moment when our democracy needed to work for all its citizens, not greedy corporations or power-hungry special interests, this is it. To succeed, we need your support. Please, contribute today. Thank you for standing with us. Sincerely, Mary G. Wilson Mary G. Wilson President, LWVUS P.S. The Court's ruling means that big money and special interests will have an even tighter grip on our democracy. But we can, and we will, fight back. Please join with us as we work to stop special interests and corporations from freezing Americans out of our government.
Copyright © 2010 League of Women Voters, 1730 M Street NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20036-4508. All Rights Reserved. Unsubscribe | Refer a Friend

Reproductive Health - HB 2354

January 12, 2010
Time for Action + Health Care
Reproductive Health HB 2354 - Targeted in-district Visits to Legislators
To: Local League Presidents in Targeted Districts: IL 21st District (Zalewski) and IL 80th District (DeLuca)
Re: Reproductive Health and Access Legislation
From: Nancy Marcus, LWVIL President

Kim Reed, LWVIL, Vice Presidents of Issues

Janet Craft, LWVIL Health Care Issues Specialist

A comprehensive Reproductive Health bill introduced last year will be reintroduced this session. Early in 2009, LWVIL joined the Campaign for Reproductive Health and Access, along with health, educational, civic and religious organizations supporting HB 2354. Committees from this group worked on strategy and revision of the bill in the summer. LWVIL has a request to do in-district visits to several legislators in Districts targeted by the Campaign. http://www.illinoisreproductivehealth.org/coaltion.shtml.
The purpose of HB 2354: provide a broad range of reproductive health services, including expanded family planning services, emergency contraception, improved financial access and prevention of unintended pregnancies through comprehensive sex education.
Provisions: No level of government may interfere with decisions on contraception, termination of a pregnancy; and there shall be redress in the courts for such actions. Termination can be for the life or health of the pregnant woman. Reimbursement from State Medicaid or other medical assistance shall be at least the same as comparable services. Termination of pregnancy shall be according to accepted standards of medical practice by the method that will best serve the patient in the judgment of the attending physician. The Act provides comprehensive sexual health education, including sexual abstinence until marriage, curricula in all elementary and secondary schools.

2010 Census

Get involved! Click on the hand to learn how to give a hand!

Letter to the Editor

Letter to the Editor Increase taxes to avoid service cuts. 7/1/09

Comments, suggestions, questions? Contact our webmaster. Last revised: August 26, 2010 16:19 PDT.