(Chicago) – Every year, Oak Lawn and Orland Park-area residents pay over $1.4 million dollars each in state gas taxes, but the budget impasse means Springfield is keeping the money rather than sending it back to help pay for road salt, patching potholes and other necessary road projects and maintenance.

“The gas tax money needs to go back to the local communities where it belongs,” said Senator Bill Cunningham, who represents parts of Oak Lawn and Orland Park.  “We passed legislation that would give the money to local communities and the governor decided to veto that legislation.”

Senator Bill Cunningham (D-18th) and other local officials recently sent a letter to the Illinois Congressional delegation asking Congress to hold CSX accountable for problems in Mount Greenwood and Evergreen Park.

“Too many residents in our communities are being negatively affected by blocked grade crossing, pedestrian safety problems and idling trains which poses an environmental hazard to our communities,” said Cunningham.

Springfield—Senator Bill Cunningham (D-Chicago) on Tuesday applauded the groups that put pressure on Governor Rauner to remove the drastic cuts applied to the ones who needed the most help: children.

“This program is a crucial component of welfare reform because it allows working parents to return to work while their kids are in enrolled in child care,” said Senator Cunningham.

SPRINGFIELD – Highlighting the importance of agriculture in the state, State Senator Bill Cunningham (D-Chicago) visited with farmers in Tazewell County on Monday to discuss the issues they face.

“Perhaps no issue or industry unites Illinois more than agriculture and agribusiness," Cunningham said. "Whether it is grain traders in downtown Chicago or farmers in Tazewell County, or an agricultural sciences laboratory in Urbana, Illinois is an international center of agricultural production and its related businesses."