State Senator Bill Cunningham (D-Chicago) has rejected a "back door" pay raise that legislators tucked away in this year's state budget and will instead donate his additional salary for the fiscal year to two local charities focused on providing support to individuals with developmental disabilities.

Cunningham will forward the additional $180 a month in pay he was slated to receive to Park Lawn and the Sertoma Centre, headquartered in Oak Lawn and Alsip, respectively. Both agencies focus on providing care and resources to the developmentally disabled populations of southwest Cook County.

Park Lawn was founded in 1955 by a small group of parents working to fund efforts to provide greater services to the developmentally disabled. Today it serves over 200 individuals. The Sertoma Centre, located in Alsip, fulfills a parallel mission providing opportunities that empower individuals with disabilities to achieve personal success.

"These two organizations provide services and resources to a population that is often overlooked and underserved," Cunningham said. "It's a modest donation, but when it comes to running a non-profit, every bit helps".

The new state budget ends the previous practice of lawmakers being required to take 12 unpaid furlough days over the course of the year. Those furloughs are equal to more than $2,100 in take-home pay annually. Cunningham opted to donate the money to Park Lawn and Sertoma not only because of the excellent work they do, but because they both provide services to Illinois social service agencies and sometimes have to wait months to receive contractual payments from the state.

SPRINGFIELD – A plan to help support the Special Olympics with a new lottery ticket was signed into law today. Senator Bill Cunningham (D – Chicago) cosponsored the legislation as it passed through the Senate.

The new law creates the Special Olympics Illinois and Special Children's Charities Fund, which would deposit all proceeds from a specially created lottery scratch-off ticket into an account with the Illinois State Treasury. Special Olympics Illinois would receive 75% of those funds for training, competitions and future programs. The remaining 25% would go to Special Children’s Charities funds.

"Helping pass this bill through the General Assembly was much easier than diving into Lake Michigan on a 17 degree day earlier this year," Cunningham said. "Either way, I am honored to support and promote the Special Olympics whenever possible."

Senator Cunningham has been an active supporter of the Special Olympics for years, having frequently participated in the organization's Polar Plunge fundraiser, during which hundreds of volunteers jump into the icy waters of Lake Michigan on a cold winter morning.

The lottery already helps fund special causes such as cancer research. “Go for the Gold” is the newest special cause scratch-off ticket proposed by the General Assembly. The Special Olympics have been going strong in Illinois since the first event was held at Soldier Field in Chicago in July 1968. Since then, the games have provided opportunities to over 21,000 athletes across the state.

The new measure passed both houses in May, and was signed into law by the governor on June 16.

SPRINGFIELD – State Sen. Bill Cunningham will be co-hosting an upcoming Hiring Event with State Reps. Fran Hurley and Kelly Burke in conjunction with the Illinois Department of Employment Security on June 17 at the Orland Park Civic Center.

Currently, over 40 employers are scheduled to attend with many available jobs. Job seekers of all skill levels are invited to attend. The complete information for the hiring event is listed below.  

What: Hiring Event with Sen. Cunningham, Reps. Hurley and Burke

Where: Orland Park Civic Center (14750 Ravinia Ave., Orland Park)

When: Tuesday, June 17 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

SPRINGFIELD – State Sen. Bill Cunningham today voted against legislation that would cost local suburban schools nearly $22 million in state funding according to the Illinois State Board of Education’s projections. The proposal, which would create a windfall of funding for many poorer downstate schools, would also drastically slash state funding to suburban schools that are struggling to make ends meet with current levels of funding. 

“Our school system is in desperate need of education funding reform, but this is not the right proposal. I commend the sponsor for taking up this monumental task, but I simply cannot support a proposal that would cut state funding to school districts in the southwest suburbs by nearly 90 percent,” Cunningham said.

However, Cunningham continues to remain optimistic that substantive education reform will be a major topic of discussion in the General Assembly.

“While I can’t support this proposal, it is a positive first step in education funding reform. I look forward to continuing to work with legislators across the state to support more equitable education reform, along with a property tax relief package to take the burden of school funding off of local property owners,” said Cunningham.

The legislation, which passed today with a vote of 32-19, will be sent to the Illinois House of Representatives.