This is a list of the appropriations committees of the House and Senate. There is a bill funding the ISBE budget at a reduction but leaving ECBG funds in tact. Discussion on this bill is taking place Thursday 3-15. Contact House appropriations committee members and ask for support of the ECBG. If the bill gets out of the house it will go to the Senate Appropriations committee. We must work hard to contact those folks and explain why the ECBG must continue to be funded.

Rauschenberger is the Chairman. He runs the show. Make convincing arguments to him i.e. . . . defunding ECBG will cost more when unserved children pour into EI and Special Education; "Entitlement Programs" . . . $$$$.

House Elementary & Secondary Education Appropriations Committee
Edward Acevedo (D)
Patricia Bellock (R)
Elizabeth Coulson (R)
Julie Curry (D) - Chairman
William Delgado (D)
Calvin Giles (D) - Vice-Chairman
Thomas Johnson (R)
Ronald Lawfer (R)
Susana Mendoza (D)
James Meyer (R)
Bill Mitchell (R)
Jerry Mitchell (R) - Minority Spokesman
Harold Murphy (D)
Ricca Slone (D)
Michael Smith (D)
Keith Sommer (R)
Wyvetter Younge (D)

Senate Appropriations Committee
J. Bradley Burzynski (R)
James Clayborne (D)
Miguel Del Valle (D)
Laura Kent Donahue (R) - Vice-Chairman
Debbie Halvorson (D)
Doris Karpiel (R)
Chris Lauzen (R)
Lisa Madigan (D)
Christine Radogno (R)
Steve Rauschenberger (R) - Chairman
Dave Syverson (R)
Donne Trotter (D) - Minority Spokesman
Stanley Weaver (R)

The House Committee will convene on March 12th to consider the Education budget; the Senate Committee meets on April 9h. It is especially important that members of these committees hear from their constituents in the coming weeks!

If you are not sure who represents you, call 1-888-Vote-Smart or www.vote-smart.org.