“This is no victory lap. This is a gasp for air.” That’s how State Rep. Sara Feigenholtz—perhaps Springfield’s most vigilant advocate for vulnerable populations served by the state— characterized the six-month agreement reached by leaders in Springfield on June 30 after operating for a year without a budget., I hope her words make you feel uneasy, as no one’s been hit harder during this brutal budget impasse than women. Rich and poor. Urban and rural. Single and married. Millennials and boomers. Able-bodied and not. The women of our state are being held hostage to the whims of political agendas.
In Illinois, more women are caregivers. More women are the family breadwinners. More are single parents. Most minimum-wage earners are women. More women teach our children in the classroom and look after them in day care. And more women than ever before are struggling to make ends meet. If you don’t count yourself among any of these categories, then odds are someone else in your life does…a sister, friend, colleague, or the woman who fills your morning cup of coffee. They got slammed by the state’s budget impasse, but may be too proud or embarrassed to share this with you.
“…when women speak up, elected officials listen.”
A year without a budget tore apart social service entities and the women and families they serve. One million people lost state services. Let’s avoid a repeat. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from 20 years on the frontlines of our state’s biggest public policy battles, it’s this—when women speak up, elected officials listen. If you don’t think you can make an impact, think again. When you advocate for yourself, you’re advocating for all of us.
Considered one of Chicago’s leading public affairs strategists, Becky Carroll is a two-decade veteran of high-profile political and public policy campaigns, serving in various roles in the Illinois Office of the Governor, Chicago Mayor’s Office, and the 2008 Obama for President Campaign, where she served as National Director of Women for Obama. She’s now president and CEO of C-Strategies LLC, a strategic consulting and public affairs firm.