Tax Hike Rally - Illinois

Union members rallied in Illinois to push a tax hike.

WORKERS OF THE WORLD UNITE!

From the Chicago Sun-Times:

In one of the largest Statehouse rallies ever, thousands of unionized government workers and social-service advocates rallied for an income-tax hike that could avert billions of dollars in crippling budget cuts.

Three hundred busloads of people, mostly from AFSCME Council 31, SEIU, the Illinois Education Association and the Illinois Federation of Teachers, converged outside the Capitol while lawmakers were in session.

On several occasions during the late-morning rally, protesters turned away from the stage across from the Capitol to face the ornate seat of state government and chant, "Raise our taxes!" and "Save Our state!"

Organizers of the rally and the Illinois secretary of state's office estimated the crowd size at 15,000, requiring that streets around the Capitol be shut down during a demonstration that had union leaders lobbing fiery insults at lawmakers unwilling to support Gov. Quinn's push to raise the individual income tax from 3 percent to 4 percent.

"These 177 people who have a job don't want to do their job," AFSCME Executive Director Henry Bayer shouted, referring to each member of the House and Senate. "We're here today to tell them to do their job!"

Maria Whelan, executive director of the child-welfare group Action for Children, told the sign-waving crowd that its voice was louder than anti-tax rallies involving the Tea Party despite getting less attention in the media.

Video.


Misguided fools.

The way to grow the economy and raise the quality of life for everyone is by lowering taxes.