AARP Members Urge State Leaders to Fix Budget Mess

AARP Volunteers Join Responsible Budget Coalition Rally in Springfield; 93 Percent in Online Poll Say They Can't Wait for Solutions

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., Feb. 17 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With the state budget in its worst shape in history, Illinoisans can't wait another year for solutions. Today, thousands of AARP Illinois members and volunteers joined a groundswell of individuals and organizations urging the Governor and the General Assembly to put partisan politics aside, and adopt a responsible budget that provides the necessary revenue to pay for and protect critical programs and services.

"Across the state, older adults are being forced into costly and unsafe nursing homes; school districts are laying off teachers and cutting programs; public libraries are cutting hours or closing doors, and individuals are not getting the health screenings they need," said Bob Gallo, AARP Illinois Senior State Director. "Illinois faces a critical situation, and if nothing is done to fix our budget mess, we're headed for disaster."

Gallo, along with AARP State President Merri Dee, and University of Illinois professors Fred Giertz and Kent Redfield, hosted a teletown hall today with nearly 4,000 AARP members calling in to discuss the state budget mess, and look at possible solutions.

AARP also conducted an online poll among teletown hall callers, with 93 percent stating that the Governor and the legislature must not wait any longer to fix the budget mess.

Town hall participants were instructed to call the AARP Budget Hot Line (800-719-3020), and urge their legislators to adopt a fiscally responsible budget that includes a comprehensive tax reform, that will produce the necessary revenue to pay for state priorities, generate savings, foster growth and create jobs.

Today, AARP also joined with others in the Responsible Budget Coalition, an organization representing millions of Illinois citizens, for a rally at the State Capitol with a clear message: We Can't Wait – Illinois cannot wait for a responsible budget that provides necessary revenues.

"We Can't Wait for the state to pay the millions of dollars it owes to senior service providers. We Can't Wait for our legislators to fix this mess, and they need to hear from you!" said AARP volunteer Mary Patton, from Peoria, who addressed the crowd gathered outside the Capitol.

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SOURCE AARP Illinois