More than 1,000 child care providers, home health care workers and others opposed to human service funding cuts rallied in Springfield on May 15.
One of the protesters is Faith Arnold, who is a childcare provider. She said 95% of the families she serves rely on state subsidies. She said uncertainty over state money is having an impact on those who run child care operations.
"I'm in the process of filing bankruptcy, and that echoes a lot of family childcare provider(s). So when you look at the budget from last year, we're trying to bounce back from that, and then face it again with, 'Guess what you guys may not get paid?' We're just hoping that we can keep our homes," Arnold said.
Workers who participated in the rally said the legislature should adopt a progressive income tax. Under that plan, the wealthy would be taxed at a higher rate than the poor.
Illinois now has a flat income tax.
The legislature has yet to pass a budget for the coming fiscal year.
Thanks to Illinois Public Radio
