Tuesday, December 20 - End Public Money for Private Schools / Shovel for Seniors
Action You Can Take Today
Action 1: Tell Governor Pritzker and your state Senator and Representative to end public money for private schools
Call Governor Pritzker: (217) 782-6830
Action 1: End Public Money for Private Schools
Contact your state legislators and Governor Pritzker, urging them to end the Tax Credit for Private School Scholarships "Invest in Kids program". Invest in Kids is really a “back door” voucher program that funnels up to $75 million a year of taxpayer money to private and religious schools. Donors who give to Invest in Kids receive a hefty tax break and Illinois loses much-needed revenue.
Invest in Kids is set to “sunset” in 2023 but pro-privatization forces, such as the Illinois Policy Institute, the Betsy DeVos-funded Illinois lobbying group American Federation for Children, Awake Illinois, Moms for Liberty, and others) are pushing to make Invest in Kids permanent and expand its scope. Support for tax credit vouchers is part of a movement, both nationally and in Illinois, to undermine public education.
Need more information? Illinois Families for Public Education, recently gave an excellent presentation on this issue. A recording of the presentation is available here and you can access the slides here. And a short FAQ on Invest in Kids is here.
Indivisible Chicago Alliance and Illinois Families for Public Schools are part of a large coalition working to sunset Invest in Kids. And we are asking your help to contact Governor Pritzker and your state rep and state senator to urge them to vote no on any extension or expansion of the voucher program. It's important to do that this week, as Invest in Kids might be voted on during the lame duck session, Jan 4-7!
Call Governor Pritzker: (217) 782-6830
Action via Illinois Families for Public Schools
Action 2: Shovel for Seniors
Tis' the season for exercising compassion and showing others you care. What better way than by shoveling for seniors across Chicago?
We have a large winter storm hitting Chicago this Thursday! We're expecting over 5'' inches of snow and lows hitting zero degrees. My Block My Hood My City is helping to connect volunteer shovelers with seniors. Shovel Crew volunteers would get our updates as the storm develops. We're expecting to shovel for seniors Friday and Saturday.
Sign up to volunteer to shovel for seniors this winter — even if you aren’t free to help this week.
Action via My Block My Hood My City
While some of these Daily Actions come from our own work as Indivisible Chicago Alliance, others are from our many partners working to advance the progressive agenda. We invite you to join us in supporting their work. Postings from partners do not imply Indivisible Chicago Alliance endorsement of specific policies and positions.