| Catholics at the Capitol
Funding for Immigrant Eductaion
January 27, 2009
Dear Immigration Reform Advocate:
As you may know, the Catholic Conference of Illinois is organizing the first Catholics at the Capitol Day in Springfield on March 4 th. Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I., the Illinois Bishops, and the CCI Board will be in Springfield along with hundreds of Catholic schoolchildren. We will be there as Catholics, meeting with our elected officials to promote our gospel values in the public square; it is clear that our voice is needed now more than ever.
I am writing to invite your participation in this event. The attached flyer includes an agenda for the day – the day will begin at the Hall of Flags in the Howlett Building at 10 a.m. A background packet, including directions, fact sheets and tips on talking to legislators, will be sent to you prior to the event. There are seven legislative initiatives that are the focus of Catholics at the Capitol.
- legislation to increase the Education Expense Tax Credit, utilized by Catholic school parents, from $500 to $1000 annually;
- legislation mandating that a woman seeking an abortion be offered the opportunity to view a sonogram before the procedure;
- funding to community organizations and parishes to provide English classes to immigrants;
- legislation to ensure federal and state reimbursements are provided to Catholic health care and hospitals on a timely basis;
- legislation to finally abolish the death penalty;
- opposition to legislation providing for same-sex marriage or similarly defined civil unions;
- legislation or budgetary action to provide a cost of doing business increase and budgetary action to provide prompt payments for Catholic Charities and other social service providers;
This office is organizing around two issues: Death Penalty Abolition and Funding for English Classes for Immigrants.
If you can join us please as an advocate on this day by February 10th, please reply with your name, contact information, parish, and names of your state representative & senator. For clarity purposes please also indicate which issue, Death Penalty or Immigration you will be advocating for. It is important we have your information so that we can order the correct number of materials and lunches. After that date, we will email you the background packet .
If you have any questions, please email me or go to www.catholicconferenceofillinois.org.
Thank you for your consideration,
Tom Garlitz
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