Lobby Day is April 21: Help from Home to Save our State and Save our Schools!

We will be taking over 30 Unit 5 employees and friends to the Lobby Day in Springfield tomorrow.  We’ll be joining about 20 others from Region 14 and thousands of others from across the State.

We think we will have a big crowd, and we hope to be able to talk with our local legislators when we get there.

But those of us in Springfield tomorrow can’t do it alone.  We need your help!   The rest of our members can help with the lobbying effort right here at home.  Please encourage members in your building to take a few minutes before or after school, during lunch, or during plan time to contact our legislators by phone, fax or email (contact information is below).  An easy way to email is to go to this link:
http://capwiz.com/nea/il/state/main/?state=IL

SUGGESTED TALKING POINTS:

• We need a balanced approach to this crisis:  That means being open to budget reductions following a cost/benefit analysis AND increased revenue.
• We support the one percent income tax increase for education but that is NOT an adequate solution
• We need comprehensive tax reform such as that found in HB 174. HB 174 would eliminate the need for layoffs in education.  It would allow the state to reduce the budget deficit while preserving services for children, the mentally ill and the elderly. Pass HB 174!

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Senator Bill Brady, R-44th District

• Springfield Office:
  105A Capitol Building, Springfield 62706
  Office (217) 782-6216  Fax (217)782-0116  
• Local Office:
  2203 Eastland Drive, Suite 3, Bloomington 61704 
  Office (309) 664-4440  Fax (309) 664-8597

Senator Dan Rutherford, R-53rd District

• Springfield Office:
  105B State Capitol, Springfield, IL 62706
  Office (217) 782-6597 
• Local Office:
  320 N. Plum St., Pontiac, IL 61764
  Office (815) 842-3632 Fax (815) 842-2875

Representative Dan Brady, R-88th District

• Springfield Office:
  200-8N Stratton Office Building, Springfield, IL 62706
  Office (217) 782-1118 Fax (217)558-6271
• Local Office:
  202 N. Prospect Rd, Ste.203, Bloomington 61704
  Office (309) 662-1100 Fax (309) 662-1150

Representative Keith Sommer, R-106th District

• Springfield Office:
  216-N Stratton Office Building, Springfield, IL 62706
  Office (217) 782-0221 Fax  (217)782-1275 Local
• Local Office:
  121 W. Jefferson St,  Morton, IL 61550
  Office (309) 263-9242 Fax (309) 263-8187
  email: sommer@mtco.com