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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The people of Illinois are suffering from an
3ongoing economic crisis that threatens their health, wealth,
4and security; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Occupy movements in Illinois are supported by
6people of all trades and occupations, from school teachers to
7military veterans, who are stirred to protest economic
8injustice by the examples of the Occupy Wall Street movement in
9New York City and the numerous other Occupy protests across the
10country; and
 
11    WHEREAS, In Illinois, the unemployment rate is 10%
12(numbering more than 660,000 people), the poverty rate is more
13than 14% (1.8 million people), and the rate of people living in
14extreme poverty (income less than $11,000 for a family of four)
15is nearly 7% (680,000 people); and
 
16    WHEREAS, The average after-tax household income of the top
171% of the United States population grew by 275% between 1979
18and 2007, and the average after-tax household income of the
19lowest 20% of the United States population grew by just 18% in
20that same period; and
 
21    WHEREAS, The top 1% of income earners control 40% of the

 

 

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1wealth in the United States; and
 
2    WHEREAS, The foreclosure rate in Illinois last month was
3the ninth worst in the country (1 of every 463 units), the rate
4in Cook County was even worse (1 of 357 units), and nearly 45%
5of the mortgage loans on Chicago homes are "underwater", that
6is, the amount of the home mortgage loan exceeds the value of
7the home; and
 
8    WHEREAS, The cost of the foreclosure crisis to Illinois
9taxpayers in 2012 is expected to reach $12 billion, blighting
10whole communities with decreased police and fire protection,
11higher crime rates, less access to health care, poorer schools,
12deteriorated infrastructure, diminished recreation services,
13reduced library services, and park closures or reduced park
14hours; and
 
15    WHEREAS, People of all ages (from young adults to seniors)
16and backgrounds, individuals from all Chicago neighborhoods,
17and persons who live in the suburbs, downstate cities, and
18rural areas are lawfully protesting the failures of Wall
19Street, the subsequent economic crisis, and the failure to
20address the needs of 99% of the population; therefore, be it
 
21    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
22NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that

 

 

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1we recognize the hardships experienced by the people of
2Illinois as a result of these economic injustices and we stand
3in support of the continued peaceful exercise of First
4Amendment rights by Occupy protestors.