Letter to the editor: Support bill to improve our local public services

Ask anyone who does good work in our community — whether they tutor kids at a public library, volunteer at a food bank or run a shelter for battered women — and they'll tell you these are truly tough times. More people are in need, but government dollars are evaporating and private donations are not sufficient to make up for that loss. We all desire — and a decent society requires — good schools for our kids, health care for our seniors, protection of our streets and homes for all citizens. But right now, in Illinois, we can't count on any of that.

It's time to face head-on the serious problems created by a state government that can't meet the needs of its citizens. We must fix the mess we're in, in a fiscally responsible, forward-thinking and fair manner. We need to pass House Bill 174. I'm a candidate for state representative in the 18th District, and I'd be fighting for this bill if I were in office. But right now I'm speaking as a citizen to urge support for HB174. The Illinois House of Representatives is in session this week and could take a vote on HB174 at any point in the next couple of days.

HB174 would finally fund public education at the levels the Illinois Constitution mandates, and quality schools would become possible for all kids in our state. This bill would allow the state to meet obligations to fund pensions for our teachers and firefighters and police officers. HB174 would mean the continuation of vital social services, which are now threatened with severe cutbacks or outright elimination. Public libraries would remain open, prescription drug programs for seniors would continue and shelters would provide food for the hungry. To achieve these ends, HB174 would raise the state income tax from 3 percent to 5 percent. This increase would fall only on those who can afford it, since the bill also increases the Earned Income Tax Credit from 5 percent to 15 percent, tripling the amount of money those at the lowest end of the income scale get back. This is a fair, reasonable and utterly necessary tax adjustment.

Passing HB174 is the right thing to do. This is the right time to do it. Let your legislators in Springfield know YOU want them to support HB174, and you'll support them if they do.

— Patrick Keenan-Devlin
Weinberg and Music '06
Democratic candidate for state representative,
18th District