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Thousands of families
will be affected by decisions made in Springfield,
and I'm glad that we have a Governor
who is looking out for the people.
Our state for some time, quite a while,
has provided financial assistance to working families
who are modest income, in order to help them afford
their chidcare.
I can't think of a higher priority in Illinois.
Unfortunately, there are some in the legislature
who thought this is something you could cut in half.
That we don't reall need the kind of investment in childcare
that Illinois has had.
Now I don't think that's right,
and I don't think anyone in this room thinks it's right.
And so we're really here, this month, on a battle for the soul of Illinois.
What are our priorities?
Are we going to take care of these children?
Or are we going to say that it's okay to bungle their childhood?
I don't think so.
The strongest force on Earth is right here in this room.
It's when people of good faith get together
for the cause of the common good.
Not the political insiders' good.
We give more tax breaks in Illinois
to those who raise thoroughbred horses
Than we give to those parents raising kids,
and we've got to change that.
We've got to make sure that we stand up for kids,
and their parents.
Working families, they need childcare.
In order for that parent to go to work,
and have confidence that their children are safe and sound.
My child, back in August, when he first started attending here,
wasn't able to speak much.
He had 10 to 15 words to say, that's it.
He was four years old.
Thanks to Erie, they provided speech therapy.
Now, ten months later,
he is able to speak clearly,
say three word sentences.
But he has much more to go.
Cutting funding will deprive him from this.
He will be left behind,
and we don't want that.
Not for my child, and not for anyone else's child.
I've been part of Marillac House since I was seven years old.
And it helped me a great deal living in the community
that I lived in, it kept me off the streets,
I wasn't a teen mom too soon. I'm in college,
and I'm just doing the same for my children
and Marillac House will be there for me, if not my kids would be on the streets.
There's really going to be a decision made in Illinois.
Are we going to go backwards?
Or are we going to stand up for childcare?
We're going to stand up.
You've got to be in power for something that's important.
You can't just be in power for itself.
For maintaining power.
You've got to have causes, that count.
That really count for real people.
People who don't have friends in high places.
That's what I've done all my life.
I believe in standing up for everyday people,
who don't have champions,
who don't have inside connections.
All of us, whether we live in Chicago, or the suburbs,
or downstate, anywhere in Illinois,
We've got to band together right now
to make sure that our children get a fair shake,
and our working moms and dads, they get a fair shake.