Speakers Address Illinois' Fiscal Problems Impact on Kids, Future

The League of Women Voters of Lake Forest and Lake Bluff and Mothers Trust Foundation are co-sponsoring a panel discussion explaining how Illinois fiscal problems are affecting children and the future at 2 p.m. April 10 at the , 400 Illinois Road, in Lake Forest.

This free discussion open to the public features three speakers, Ralph Martire, Kathy Ryg, and Kristi Long, who will address the ongoing tax issues Illinois faces.

Martire, executive director of the bipartisan Center for Tax and Budget Accountability, will open the discussion. Martire is a regular columnist for the State Journal-Register and The Herald News on public policy and good government. Besides being a frequent lecturer on fiscal policy, Martire also teaches at Illinois State University and .

Ryg is well known to the Lake Forest area. From 2003 to 2009, she was the state representative for the 59th District, which includes parts of Lake Forest and Lake Bluff.  Ryg currently is president of the Voices for Illinois Children. Ryg has worked to improve early learning opportunities for young children, bolster after-school programs and services for youths in need and increase schools’ quality and accountability.

Long, who is the president of United Way of Lake County, will demonstrate how the issues affect us locally. The United Way currently is working with more than 50 agencies and has four key programs to prepare children for a changing world.

There will be time for questions after the presentations.

The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. For information, visit www.lwv-lflb.org.
 
The Mothers Trust Foundation is a non-profit organization supporting social service providers by offering assistance to children in need in Lake County, Illinois. For information, visit www.motherstrustfoundation.org.