EVERGREEN PARK, Ill. – State Rep. Kelly Burke, D-Evergreen Park, and state Sen. Bill Cunningham, D-Chicago, are inviting residents to discuss issues facing the state and local communities at a Meet and Greet on Wednesday, Sept. 13 at 7 p.m. at the Green Hills Library, located at 10331 Interlochen Dr. in Palos Hills.

“With an honest, balanced state budget in place for the first time in years, I am focused on moving our state forward and healing the damage that the governor’s budget crisis has been done to our social service agencies and higher education system,” Burke said. “I want to use this opportunity to speak with residents one-on-one to discuss the difficult choices we made in Springfield and push back against the fake news being spread by those who back the governor.”

Burke is inviting residents to stop by and discuss local and state issues in a casual setting. Burke is also fighting to repeal the Cook County beverage tax and will be collecting signatures at her event in support of legislation to outlaw this unfair tax. She believes this tax unfairly impacts middle-class families and seniors and will jeopardize local jobs. The county’s tax raises the average cost of a 2-liter soda by 67 percent, and raises the average cost of a bottle of fruit juice or iced tea by 43 percent.

“Instead of making the wealthy pay their fair share, this tax unfairly hurts middle-class families and seniors on fixed incomes,” Burke said. “I am also concerned the beverage tax will hurt small businesses and force people to shop outside the county. If you agree we need to can this tax, I am encouraging you to stop by and sign my petition repealing it.”