One of the basic teachings of our religious faith is, "Practice what you preach." This means that if we "preach" something, "Love your neighbor as yourself, ","Forgive as God has forgiven you," then we must "practice" that teaching. How? By living in our daily lives what we say we believe. Apparently, people in the government of Illinois do not believe that; they don't "practice"(live) what they "preach"(command).
In Illinois, the state, county, and city governments order all citizens to pay their bills on time. You must pay your property taxes by a certain date. You must pay your water bills, too. By April 15th every year, you must file your state income taxes (along with your federal ones, too). If you do not pay what you owe and pay on time, the government can fine you, charge you a penalty, even take away your home or put you in jail. However, the State of Illinois does not believe it must do what it orders all of us to do. What do I mean?
The State of Illinois owes schools, hospitals, counseling agencies, rehabilitation organizations billions - billions - of dollars. The State of Illinois was supposed to pay many of these bills back in January. It is now almost August and the State still has not paid what it owes. So what has happened? People who have problems - mental health, substance abuse, special education, training for jobs, care for children - are not getting the help they need. Why? Because the agencies that want to help them have no money. WHY? BECAUSE the State of Illinois is not paying what it owes. Does this bother the State Representatvies and State Senators? No. They are all on vacation till after Labor Day. people with disabilities, including deaf people, are suffering in Illinois. Children with disabilities, including many deaf children, are suffering in Illinois. They are all suffering because the people in the State of Illinois government will not pay what the government owes, even though the government demands that all of us pay on time!
This Fall, these same government people are running for Governor, State Representative, State Senator. They want you to vote for them. Tell them you will not vote for them until they pay what they owe to our schools, fire and police departments, special education programs, mental health and substance abuse programs. THEY DON'T PAY WHAT THEY OWE; THEY DON'T GET OUR VOTES!