The budget process is likely to dominate this session. A portion of the temporary income tax increase will expire in 2015 resulting in an estimated $1.6 billion drop in state revenue. It’s also an election year..

Illinois' current flat tax system is unfair and not really flat. Taxpayers in the lowest 20 percent pay almost 14 cents on the dollar in state and local taxes while those in the top 1 percent pay only 5 cents. Justice calls us to the fair tax campaign.

Identified by our member congregations, the issues for Community Renewal Society's 2013-2014 Platform for Renewal direct our policy and organizing work. Join us as--together--we put our faith in action for the common good by advocating for education reform through a fair tax, affordable housing, violence reduction, and job opportunities for ex-offenders and long-term unemployed workers.

Thank you for standing up against mandatory minimums and contacting your state legislators.

The money that we spend on keeping people in the Cook County Jail wastes taxpayer dollars, damages lives, and does nothing to stop the violence in our communities. That's why we have launched the Reclaim Campaign.

Russell Cunningham, a CRS leader and member of the Reclaim Campaign from First Baptist Congregational Church in Chicago, gave the following testimony at the Reclaim Campaign Launch on November 7, 2013.

Join us in calling on members of the Illinois General Assembly and the Governor to oppose SB 1342 and any new legislation that expands mandatory minimums or enhances Illinois’ already harsh sentencing policies.

We need to be "smart" rather than "tough" on crime to reduce violence. SB 1342 takes a counterproductive, piecemeal approach to gun violence.

Are you wondering how the Affordable Care Act will affect you, your faith institution and your community? The Campaign for Better Health Care's In-Person Counselors can help.

In late August 2013, Governor Quinn signed into law two key pieces of criminal justice legislation, which go into effect immediately.

Good news! Governor Quinn has signed most of our 2013 legislative priorities into law.

Over the past year, Community Renewal Society advocated for common-sense anti-trafficking gun measures. We are disappointed in the new concealed carry law enacted by the IL General Assembly because it lacks many safeguards.

Thanks to advocates like you, and in concert with our amazing Advocacy Network members, congregational organizers, and coalition partners, we have good news to report from this year’s session.

With less than two weeks left in the regular legislative session, we are in the final home stretch. PCG is pleased to share a couple of successes with you, as well as update you on pending legislation that you can take action on now.

With only three weeks left in the session, Wednesday, May 8, 2013 was a big day for our legislative priorities in the Illinois General Assembly Committees.

We call upon all Illinois legislators to ensure that any gun legislation that is called for vote in the General Assembly include the following anti-trafficking measures: universal background checks, titling handguns, and reporting lost or stolen firearms.

Every day 3.9 million men and women in Illinois are denied opportunities to decent employment and housing. Current law and practices prevent hard-working, law-abiding individuals the chance to move forward from past mistakes. HB 3061 would give many of them a better future.

Illinois ought to be a leader of national legal reforms that consider prostituted people as victims of human trafficking in need of services rather than as criminal offenders.