Disabled Protesters call on CME to teturn $1 billion in tax breaks to save health care services in Illinois | May 23, 2012

Mike Ervin's complete speech in front
of the Chicago Mercantile Exchang

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Reporting Susanna Song for CBS2 Chicago

CHICAGO (CBS) — Wednesday was a day of protests in Chicago, with activists lining up against everything from tax breaks to teachers’ contracts.

As CBS 2’s Susanna Song reports, about 200 protesters composed of senior citizens, people with disabilities and health care workers demonstrated Wednesday morning, marching a couple of blocks to the Board of Trade at LaSalle Street and Jackson Boulevard. Several of them were arrested.



The group marched a couple of blocks to the front of the Chicago Board of Trade, blocking the intersection of Jackson Boulevard and Financial Place. They also linked arms in a human chain and blocked the main entrance to the Board of Trade.

The protesters are angry that the CME Group, which runs the Board of Trade, was given tax breaks that by the State of Illinois that will exceed $1 billion over the coming decade.

Gov. Pat Quinn approved the tax break last December, after the CME Group threatened to leave Illinois over an increase in the state’s corporate tax.

Protesters say they are angry that the state has now proposed to slash $210 million in programs that provide health care services to seniors and people with disabilities. They are calling for CME officials to give them back the tax breaks.

“Our message to the Chicago Mercantile Exchange is loud and clear,” said protester Mike Ervin. “Give it back!” He led the protesters in a chant.

“We have tried everything else to resist the cuts in home health services in the State of Illinois, and in spite of that, they gave the tax break for these people at the CME, and the tax break is not justified,” said protester Jim Rhodes.

Police allowed the protesters to block the street for about 15 minutes or so, but when they told protesters police, about 15 refused to do so. They were arrested and taken away.

In response to the protest, the CME Group said: “The recent Illinois tax changes were not an incentive, but rather a solution to a tax code disparity that left CME Group on unequal footing with other Illinois companies and exchanges. This necessary adjustment allows CME Group to remain competitive with other global exchanges and helps solidify Chicago’s place as the risk management capital of the world.”

@ http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2012/05/23/protesters-to-cme-group-give-your-tax-break-back/