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Your state legislators need to know that Illinois needs a budget that meets basic human needs.

On July 9, to balance the state budget Governor Rod Blagojevich vetoed $1.4 billion from the fiscal year 2009 budget that was passed by the General Assembly at the end May.

The vetoes included a crucial $4 million increase for services in supportive housing to fund new projects opening this year. There was also an additional 2% across-the-board budget decrease from existing levels for all Illinois Department of Human Services programs, including the Emergency Food and Shelter Program that funds overnight shelters and transitional housing.

At the same time, Governor Blagojevich did not veto pay raises for the legislators and for himself.

All of us who have been following the Illinois budget negotiations in the press and/or at the State Capitol are aware that Governor Blagojevich, House Speaker Michael Madigan, Senate President Emil Jones, Senate Minority Leader Frank Watson, and House Minority Leader Tom Cross seemingly are putting more effort into trying to shift responsibility for the budget crisis to others as they are on working together to find a long-term solution to Illinois' fiscal crisis.

The Illinois House is going into session on July 15 to potentially override the budget vetoes. However, Senate President Jones has stated that he has no plans to call the Senate back into session before the November veto session. Unless both the House and Senate override Governor Blagojevich, the vetoes stand.

Please contact your members of the Illinois General Assembly and ask them to do two things:

1. Let their leaders know that it is crucial that they come to an agreement with the governor on a budget that has revenue to meet the basic human needs of people across the state, including housing.

2. Ask your state legislators to vote to override the vetoes for programs that fund basic human needs and to support revenue increases that do not unfairly burden low-income households to pay for them.

Your message will be sent to each of the following targets:

Your State Representative
Your State Senator

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