SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Bill Cunningham, a Democrat who represents portions of Chicago and the Southwest Suburbs, released the following statement Wednesday after the governor outlined his budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2026:

“We can’t forget that funding for the state budget comes from taxpayers, so we have to be responsible with how the money is spent. The governor’s proposed budget is a good starting point for negotiations. With a little bit of fiscal discipline, we should get to a point where the finalized budget meets the needs of Illinois residents in a responsible way.”