RELEASE: Citizen Action/Illinois, and 22 Illinoisans Head to Washington to Demand Congress Say NO to More Tax Breaks for Billionaires & Corporations
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Josh Schrader
josh@citizenaction-il.org
Advocates will join Fair Share America at the US Capitol to meet with their Representatives and Rally for Tax Fairness for Working Families
CHICAGO, IL – A delegation of 22 advocates, workers, and community members from Illinois will head to Washington, DC next week to send a clear message to Congress: no more tax breaks for billionaires and big corporations, especially not at the expense of hardworking families.
"Citizen Action/Illinois is joining this fight because it’s time the rich and big corporations pay what they owe in taxes," said Anusha Thotakura, Executive Director of Citizen Action/Illinois. “We are tired of watching our communities bear the brunt while billionaires and corporations walk away with even more tax breaks. We’re going to DC to remind our members of Congress who they work for — and that the people of Illinois oppose handouts for the rich as everyday Illinoisans struggle to keep their jobs, access quality health care, and put food on the table. We simply can’t afford for Congress to give more tax breaks to billionaires, especially while they debate gutting our essential services like Medicaid, Social Security, SNAP and so much more. Our Representatives have got to put the needs of working people first.”
Citizen Action/Illinois is joined by 22 everyday Illinoisans and are traveling to the nation’s capital as part of a national push led by Fair Share America (FSA), a grassroots organization fighting for tax justice. While in DC, the Illinois delegation will meet with their members of Congress and join people from more than 30 states at a rally at the US Capitol on April 10 at 12:00 PM ET at the Capitol. The FSA rally will give voice to the everyday Americans with gut-wrenching stories, as well as Members of Congress speaking out against the current push to extend the Trump tax cuts for the rich on the backs of the working class.
The 2017 Trump tax law gave the vast majority of its benefits to the richest 10 percent and large corporations. More than 80 percent of the total benefit from the 2017 tax cuts went to the top 10% of earners, and 90% of workers did not see a pay raise at work. That’s because tax cuts for the rich and big corporations consistently fail to deliver on the economic benefits they promise.
Congress is moving forward with a budget plan that would extend and deepen the same failed 2017 tax cuts — and pay for them by forcing deep cuts to vital programs that support working families like Medicaid, SNAP, Head Start, and more.
In Illinois the impacts of the cuts needed to fund the tax cuts for the rich are severe:
3.4 million Illinoisans — including 674,000 children — risk losing access to care with Medicaid cuts.
229,000 families could be pushed back into hunger due to SNAP reductions.
"Despite months of in-state protests and people standing up to fight against misplaced budget policies that put billionaires before families, Congress isn’t listening," said Kristen Crowell, Executive Director of Fair Share America. “DC leadership is trying to jam through another round of tax cuts for the wealthy at the expense of every working and middle class family nationwide –and they don’t want to face the consequences. So we’re bringing the people to them to share their stories. Fair Share is proud to be leading this fight for tax justice with our partners in the states, because every single person deserves a fair shot to thrive in this country.”
EVENT DETAILS:
Who: Fair Share America will host Members of Congress, advocates, grassroots leaders, workers and storytellers from over 30 states
What: Rally to Say NO to Tax Breaks for Billionaires & Corporations
Where: Upper Senate Park, next to the U.S. Capitol Building
When: Wednesday, April 10, 2025 at 12:00 PM ET
Watch: Live stream of the Rally can be found here
Members of the Illinois delegation will be available for interviews by phone or video call while in DC or upon their return home. To coordinate an interview or get more information, contact Josh Schrader with Citizen Action/Illinois at the contact information provided below.
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For Media Inquiries:
Contact
Josh Schrader
Citizen Action/Illinois
(402) 860-0689
josh@citizenaction-il.org