RELEASE: U.S. Senator Durbin Joined Nine Other Members of Congress, Citizen Action/Illinois, and Advocates to Stand Up for Working Families Against Harmful Budget Cuts
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Josh Schrader
josh@citizenaction-il.org
U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, Representatives Jan Schakowsky, Danny Davis, Bill Foster, Robin Kelly, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Jesús “Chuy” García, Mike Quigley, Sean Casten, and Lauren Underwood Joined Advocates to Reject Cuts to Essential Services That Millions of Illinoisans Rely on
CHICAGO, IL — Monday, February 18, 2025 – As the Trump administration and extremists in Congress push for deep cuts to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, student aid, and other critical safety net programs, Citizen Action/Illinois, nine other Illinois members of Congress, and other allies hosted a press conference to send a clear message: we need a federal budget that prioritizes Illinoisans over profits—not tax breaks for Trump’s billionaire buddies and corporations.
U.S. Senator Dick Durbin kicked off the Illinois delegation by saying, “This is 100% about tax cuts for the nation's wealthiest. What will actually make America great again is funding the services that working families and working Illinoisans rely on.”
Representative Jan Schakowsky continued by saying, “My message to Republicans is this: you are betraying the American people. The average senior citizen gets $65 dollars a day while the nation's wealthiest get well more than that. Why are we putting billionaires over the everyday American.”
According to a fact sheet attached below this press release, over 3.4 million Illinoisans rely on Medicaid, and that alone is just one of the many services that could be in jeopardy with the proposed Republican budget cuts under the Trump administration.
“Almost the entire Illinois Democratic delegation is here to serve notice to our colleagues in the U.S. House, Senate, and to President Trump: we need a government that functions by the guise of true democratic principles,” stated Representative Danny Davis. “While it’s a cold day in Illinois, I guarantee we will fight until hell freezes over.”
Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi pointed out President’s Day and its celebration to honoring presidents who put country over party. “Today, we have a president who is the complete opposite. We are at a preverbal fork in the road and we have to choose to fight back.”
Citizen Action/Illinois pointed out that Donald Trump and other Congressional Republicans ran in 2024 on the promise to lower prices for the American people. We know they lied because they are planning to betray the middle class and raise costs on American families, all to pay for giveaways to Trump's billionaire class.
Anusha Thotakura, Director of Citizen Action/Illinois spoke during the event saying, “If the budget cuts are successful, $314,266 would be the average annual tax cut for the richest 10% percent and nearly $2 trillion in total giveaways would go to CEOs and big corporations. Full stop, middle-class Illinois families would be left holding the bag to pay for this giveaway to big corporations and the rich. Republicans will take away health care, increase the cost of essentials like food and housing, and decimate services working families count on.”
To close out the Illinois delegation members present at the press conference, Representative Lauren Underwood said “You would think Trump would have learned his lesson by now. Illinois has time and again fought back and successfully won against his extremist agenda. If you come for Illinois families — like they’ve made clear — you will lose. Our tax payer dollars help working Illinoisans. We will not allow families to suffer so corporations and billionaires can benefit.”
Citizen Action/Illinois announced it will start a state wide campaign traveling to districts represented by Illinois Republicans to urge them to reject and vote no on budget cuts to these critical services.
Citizen Action/Illinois is the state’s largest public progressive interest organization, dedicated to advocating for healthcare access, economic justice, and consumer rights. Through grassroots organizing and coalition-building, we work to ensure policies that protect Illinois families, seniors, and communities.
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For Media Inquiries:
Contact
Josh Schrader
Citizen Action/Illinois
(402) 860-0689
josh@citizenaction-il.org