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Citizens to Demand Senator Durbin Choose Whose Interests He Will Serve in Washington


CHICAGO—(ENEWSPF)—November 9, 2012.

What:  Make Wall Street Pay Illinois will hold a public action immediately after the elections pressing Senator Dick Durbin to choose whether he will serve the interests of Wall Street, big corporations and the very rich or the interests of the vast majority of his constituents in the budget showdown negotiations. 

Who:  Clergy, students and people from all walks of life will demand that Senator Dick Durbin commit to fight sequestration cuts to domestic programs and protect Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. They will also demand that he oppose extending the Bush Tax Cuts to the top 2% and support the passage of HR 6411, the Financial Transaction Tax (aka the Robin Hood Tax). 

When and Where:

Friday, November 9 at 3 p.m.

Pritzker Park (corner State & Van Buren)

Why:  When Congress returns to Washington after the elections they face a stark choice- Who should pay for investments in our country’s future – wealthy Americans and big corporations or the rest of us?  The Bush-era tax cuts are set expire in December providing Congress and the Administration a critical opportunity to raise much needed revenues from the wealthiest 2%. 

Massive across-the-board budget cuts, sequestration, are set begin in January. This will cut $1.2 trillion in spending over the next 10 years – costing millions of jobs and hurting health care, education, aid to state and local governments, and other vital programs.  Senator Durbin and other lawmakers working on a “grand bargain” of $4 trillion in deficit reduction have considered putting Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid on the chopping block, in addition to scores of other programs critical to creating jobs and our protecting families.

“If the wealthy and large corporations pay their fair share, we can afford to fund important investments in the common good,” said Rev. Dwayne Grant of Xperience Church, a United Methodist Church New Church Start in Hillside/Bellwood, Illinois. “We can have a budget that sustains life, as God has called us to do.”

“The religious right has made Ayn Rand their moral compass, but Jesus tells us there is no commandment greater than to ‘love your neighbor as yourself’”, says Rev. Marilyn Pagán-Banks, president of IIRON.

The National Context: Actions are also occurring in Iowa, Maine, Minnesota, New York, and Kansas (see list of actions here).

“With the elections behind us, it’s time for Congress and the Administration to get to work for the American people, not a handful of CEOs. When the tax dodging ends, investments in jobs and an economy that works for everyone can begin,” said George Goehl, Executive Director, National People’s Action.

Make Wall Street Pay Illinois is a coalition of grassroots organizations dedicated to protecting investments America has made in health, education, welfare and retirement security and to ensuring that the wealthy, Wall Street banks and major corporations pay their fair share to support these investments. Coalition members are: IIRON, Lakeview Action Coalition, Northside P.O.W.E.R., Southsiders Organized for Unity and Liberation (SOUL), Illinois People’s Action and Chicago Coalition for the Homeless.

Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/379102915500458/?fref=ts

Source: Occupy Chicago


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