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Speakers in Aurora (IL) say Rauner budget moves an attack on middle class
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/news/ct-abn-budget-cuts-st-0904-20150903-story.htmlA conference held Thursday at the Painters Union Hall in Aurora became more of a rally against what participants called an attack on Illinois' middle class.
While many of those attending were union members and mostly labor supporters, they said the budgetary moves of Gov. Bruce Rauner were bigger than just attacks on labor, or political partisanship.
"This battle isn't as much against labor as it is on our middle class," said state Sen. Linda Holmes, D-Aurora. "Look at the numbers – as the numbers of organized labor dwindle, the numbers of the middle class dwindle, too. Rauner is definitely catering to that upper 1 percent, not to us, not to the people who go out and do the work every day, and get things done."
"It's an assault on our values and who we are and what we respect in this state," added state Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia, D-Aurora.
The two legislators were fresh from Wednesday's failed attempt by House Democrats to override the governor's veto on the "AFSCME bill," as well as on numerous budget overrides. All votes were essentially one vote short – including a vote on a bill designed to reverse Rauner's cuts to child care services.
"So much of our social services are in dire straits," Holmes said. "Services for veterans, children with developmental disabilities, and seniors."
Mark Guethle, a Painters Union member and Kane County Democratic Party chairman, also introduced a number of local officials from throughout the county and beyond who attended the conference. Guethle said part of the point of the conference, timed in part with the upcoming Labor Day holiday, was to acclimate community leaders to the issues surrounding the budget, as well as Rauner's attempts to make Illinois a Right to Work state.
"The governor wants to lower people's wages, and he's holding us hostage through the budget," he said.
The Rev. Delores Hicks, also an Aurora Township trustee, works with senior citizens. She said cuts in senior services "just about takes the dignity away from people who have worked all their lives." That includes help for people in assisted living, or those who are receiving in-home care, she said.
The legislators stressed that some in-fighting between Democrats who were upset with some of the actions of former Gov. Pat Quinn, and thus voted for Rauner, helped create the current situation.
They urged people at the rally to come together and put aside their differences.
"The middle class of the state of Illinois better stand up for itself," Enger said.
While many of those attending were union members and mostly labor supporters, they said the budgetary moves of Gov. Bruce Rauner were bigger than just attacks on labor, or political partisanship.
"This battle isn't as much against labor as it is on our middle class," said state Sen. Linda Holmes, D-Aurora. "Look at the numbers – as the numbers of organized labor dwindle, the numbers of the middle class dwindle, too. Rauner is definitely catering to that upper 1 percent, not to us, not to the people who go out and do the work every day, and get things done."
"It's an assault on our values and who we are and what we respect in this state," added state Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia, D-Aurora.
The two legislators were fresh from Wednesday's failed attempt by House Democrats to override the governor's veto on the "AFSCME bill," as well as on numerous budget overrides. All votes were essentially one vote short – including a vote on a bill designed to reverse Rauner's cuts to child care services.
"So much of our social services are in dire straits," Holmes said. "Services for veterans, children with developmental disabilities, and seniors."
Mark Guethle, a Painters Union member and Kane County Democratic Party chairman, also introduced a number of local officials from throughout the county and beyond who attended the conference. Guethle said part of the point of the conference, timed in part with the upcoming Labor Day holiday, was to acclimate community leaders to the issues surrounding the budget, as well as Rauner's attempts to make Illinois a Right to Work state.
"The governor wants to lower people's wages, and he's holding us hostage through the budget," he said.
The Rev. Delores Hicks, also an Aurora Township trustee, works with senior citizens. She said cuts in senior services "just about takes the dignity away from people who have worked all their lives." That includes help for people in assisted living, or those who are receiving in-home care, she said.
The legislators stressed that some in-fighting between Democrats who were upset with some of the actions of former Gov. Pat Quinn, and thus voted for Rauner, helped create the current situation.
They urged people at the rally to come together and put aside their differences.
"The middle class of the state of Illinois better stand up for itself," Enger said.
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