SPRINGFIELD - Galesburg.com reports that Wednesday a dozen seniors, angry with Governor Quinn about the $2.7 billion in Medicaid budget cuts he's proposing, dumped "survival kits" at the Governor's Capitol office door. The kits contained diapers, gloves, wipes, empty prescription bottles and other senior care necessities.
“The General Assembly has already made deep cuts to public services for seniors and people with disabilities. Enough is enough. We’re here today to tell Governor Quinn and the members of the General Assembly: ‘Save our Seniors’ ” one of the protestors said.
The seniors are calling for Illinois to move from a flat tax to a progressive system, wherein the wealthier pay more state taxes.
The dozen seniors were cheered on by nearly 200 other seniors and people with disabilities who rallied at the Hall of Flags in the Howlett Building prior to the news conference. Seniors also called for a fair tax that requires the wealthy to pay their fair share and a $1 increase in the cigarette tax to prevent devastating cuts.
At the rally seniors were addressed by John K. Holton, director of the Illinois Department on Aging, Barbara Franklin, president of the Illinois Alliance of Retired Americans, William McNary, co-director of Citizen Action/Illinois and April Verrett, executive vice president of SEIU Healthcare Illinois.
More at Galesburg.com
