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Illinois faces a multi-billion dollar budget crisis as a result of our national economic problems and the state's long-term failure to address revenue reforms to correct its structural deficit. The state owes billions for public health services and pension payments, and has no sustainable revenue source for PreK-12 schools. Higher education funding has fallen to FY 2002 levels, and the state must replace thousands of state workers who provide critical services.
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The IFT is launching a campaign to urge the state of Illinois to make real and lasting change to our state's tax and revenue structure. Our campaign mission at the state level is aligned with the American Federation of Teachers' effort, dubbed Fight for America's Future: It's Dollars and Sense. That campaign had a first success with passage of the Economic Stimulus package in Washington, DC. We must do everything we can to ensure that our statewide effort achieves positive results. We are fighting for our future right here in Illinois.
Find my elected officials. |
Here's how to join the campaign. |
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First, tell the General Assembly to pay the pension debt that they created.
Teachers and other pension participants have never missed a pension payment, but the General Assembly has diverted pension payments to other purposes for decades. Click here to send a message to the governor and the legislators that tells them to fix the pension funding problem they created.
Next, tell your representative and senator that public education at all levels and vital state services are suffering because of inadequate revenue.
When the legislature reconvenes April 21 through the scheduled May 31 adjournment, you can call your representative and senator in Springfield (the main General Assembly phone number is 217/782-2000) to ask them to support more revenue for colleges and universities, schools and vital state services.
Finally, contact the IFT Department of Political Activities (217/544-8562) or your IFT regional office to see how you can become inolved in this campaign at the local level.
You can also check the IFT website for updates. We will be posting action alerts and information about local activities in this section of the website.
Here are fact sheets to help you learn more about public pensions and the need for more revenue:
Illinois' public pension plans among the most affordable in the nation.
Maintain Defined Benefit (DB) pension plans.
Fight for Illinois' Future: The IFT's guiding principles in the campaign for needed revenue.
Fight for Illinois' Future: Dismal finances - revenue solutions.
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| IFT members weigh in on funding needs for education and vital services. |
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Thank you to several thousand IFT members who participated in our online survey to find out how lack of funds were affecting members and the students and citizens they serve. IFT members in every job category want to do the best job they can for the students and citizens they serve, but all around them they see the impact of economic neglect to Ilinois' vital public institutions and watch as their pension systems face a meltdown because of the state's continued failure to make required pension payments.
Har firsthand from IFT members about the impact that inadequate funding is having on the students and citizensatey ser.
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