SPRINGFIELD – Taxpayers unhappy with Democrats who've signed onto a bill making every school, church and medical facility in the state of Illinois a "Safe Zone" for illegal aliens are planning a rally at the State Capitol Saturday, February 25.
Event organizers at Illinois' Minutemen Project are inviting like-minded folks to join them at the Capitol at noon to voice opposition to HB 426, a bill that passed a House committee last Wednesday.
Simply implementing the measure could cost taxpayers over $5 million annually, representatives from the state's Department of Human Services told lawmakers in committee last week. That would be the bare minimum each year to train personnel in schools, churches and medical facilities on how to handle situations when illegal aliens seek sanctuary.
Christine Chalkey, an advocate for Illinois' developmentally disabled, says Illinois' ongoing financial crisis is not the right time to increase state expenditures for programs like those in HB 426.
"The state is attempting to cut funding for mandated, medically necessary, life-sustaining services and care for US Citizens, children and adults living with profound physical and cognitive Developmental Disabilities in Illinois," Chalkey said. "Yet, while making cuts to the weakest citizens, Illinois legislators are extending and expanding funding for non-citizens."
Chalkey, as well as State Rep. Allen Skillicorn (R-Crystal Lake), will be speaking at the rally on February 25.
So far, those sponsoring and co-sponsoring HB 426 are all Democrats: Rep. Emanuel Chris Welch – Kathleen Willis – Elizabeth Hernandez – Theresa Mah – Robyn Gabel, Ann M. Williams, Gregory Harris, Thaddeus Jones, Silvana Tabares, Kelly M. Cassidy, Michael J. Zalewski, Laura Fine, Litesa E. Wallace, Christian L. Mitchell, Rita Mayfield, Lawrence Walsh, Jr., Will Guzzardi and Luis Arroyo.
More information on rally can be found at Illinois Minutemen Project's Facebook Page.
