Cunningham, fellow Senate Democrats supports middle-class economic agenda

SPRINGFIELD – In light of an economic agenda put forth by the Governor’s office, Illinois Senate Democrats are proposing a package of legislation to increase tuition tax credits, raise the minimum wage to $11 an hour and close millions worth of corporate tax loopholes. The Senate Democrats are proposing the plan after negotiations with Governor Rauner stalled.

“When I began working in public service, I pledged to protect and better the lives of the families and residents of my district. The agenda put forth by the Governor does nothing to help working families get ahead. Our plan will help students get a better education, help working families increase their take home pay and help eliminate the millions in corporate loopholes,” Senator Cunningham said.

The agenda unveiled Sunday contains five key provisions:

• Tuition Tax Credit. Qualified parents or students who are Illinois residents can claim a tax credit for higher education expenses incurred at any qualified public or private university, community college, vocational school, or other postsecondary educational institution located in Illinois.
• Minimum wage. Increases the state minimum wage to $9.00 on July 1, 2015 and by $0.50 each year thereafter until the minimum wage reaches $11.00 on July 1, 2019. Provides a three-year tax credit for employers with less than 50 employees.
• Illinois College Promise Program. Covers tuition and mandatory fees for up to two years at any of the state’s 48 community colleges so long as the student continues to meet all applicable eligibility requirements.
• Healthy Workplace Act. Guarantees up to seven paid days of sick time to full and part time employees. Sick time would accrue at a rate of one hour for every 30 hours worked. Employees would not be able to take sick time for the first 120 days of employment
• Corporate loopholes. Ends a variety of corporate tax breaks including corporations ability to automatically receive a tax breaks for production outside of Illinois. Closing these loopholes will bring the state $334 million.

“The plan we are putting forth is a common-sense approach to making the lives of working families better, helping students get a good, solid education and making certain that corporations start sharing in the sacrifice that many of our families have already shared in,” Cunningham said.

The new proposal come as Governor Bruce Rauner has threatened to shut down state government and end state services if lawmakers don’t reduce worker protections, make it harder to sue corporations that make dangerous products and slash billions of dollars in services to at-risk children and seniors.

Senator Cunningham plans to co-sponsor the legislation along with numerous other Senate Democrats. The proposals could be in final form for possible votes should lawmakers be called back into session this summer.

Cunningham sponsored bill to address excessive executive compensation passes Illinois Senate

• higher education
• senator cunningham
• executive compensation

SPRINGFIELD – After the issuance of a special report detailing costly administrative practices at our state’s public universities and community colleges, a bill to address the growing administrative costs and generous executive compensation packages that have helped fuel tuition increases for Illinois students has passed the Illinois Senate.
 
House Bill 3593 is a bi-partisan reform plan for Illinois institutions of higher learning to help put a stop to excessive administrative perks outlined in the May 22 report of the Illinois Senate Higher Education Sub-Committee report on Executive Compensation. The legislation addresses portions of the report, including limiting contract extensions and automatic renewal of contracts. Any contract extensions must also be made during an open board meetings with adequate public notice of the negotiations. Senator Cunningham has stated that additional reforms will be addressed over the summer.
 
“After the release of our Higher Education Sub-Committee report, it was obvious that something had to be done. The contracts dealt with in this legislation have a significant impact on state finances and abuse of the process erodes the trust of the taxpaying public. We have begun the process of reforming these contracts and have more work to do,” Senator Cunningham said. “I’m pleased to have worked with my colleagues on a bi-partisan approach to this issue and look forward to continuing our work over the summer.”
 
The report and legislation come after a series of media reports of detailing questionable contracts and severance packages for administrators at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn and at Illinois State University in Normal. According to the report, presidents at public universities in Illinois often receive cash bonuses, country club memberships, and housing and vehicle allowances, this despite enjoying a median salary of nearly $300,000 a year.
 
The report covers public higher education institutions across the state and found similar instances of opaque negotiations, contract extensions approved without discussions and issues dealing with pensions, such as excessive sick-day buyouts. The report goes on to explain possible reforms to limit these practices, including reforms to the Open Meetings Act as well as auditing reforms.

Cunningham to host basement flood prevention workshop

• senator cunningham
• district event
• flood prevention

SPRINGFIELD - State Senator Bill Cunningham (D-Chicago), along with other elected officials and the Historic Chicago Bungalow Association, are holding a workshop to help homeowners prevent basement flooding.

The "Basement Flooding: Understanding Your Sewers & Reducing Flooding Risks on Your Property" workshop will be held on June 3 at 7:00PM in the Beverly Arts Center, 2407 West 111th Street in Chicago. Those in attendance will be able to request free rain barrels for their home.

Attendees are asked to RSVP either online at www.chicagobungalow.org or call 312-675-0300 x10.

Cunningham legislation to protect exploited DCFS wards passes Illinois Senate

• senator cunningham
• Cook County Sheriff
• SB201

SPRINGFIELD — Criminals who exploit wards of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services will now face additional penalties under legislation passed in the Illinois Senate today by State Senator Bill Cunningham (D-Chicago). The legislation is an initiative of the Cook County Sheriff’s Office.

Senate Bill 201 allows sentencing courts to consider a defendant’s knowledge of a prostitution victim’s DCFS status when sentencing. Many wards of the state are extremely susceptible and are in need of extra judicial protections.

"A recent Chicago Tribune series detailed the fact that human traffickers often specifically target and recruit wards of the state who reside in group homes because they see them as vulnerable and susceptible to being lured into a life of prostitution," Cunningham said. "SB 201 would enable judges to enhance the sentences they impose on pimps and traffickers in those cases."

The legislation specifically states that judges may consider the fact that a criminal knew their victim to be a ward of DCFS and consider that knowledge as an aggravating factor when imposing sentences.

“I’m proud to have worked with the Cook County Sheriff’s Office on this and other legislation designed to protect our most vulnerable children. I will continue to make their protection a priority,” Cunningham said.

The bill now goes to the Illinois House for consideration.