SPRINGFIELD – Illinois State Senator Tom Cullerton (D-Villa Park) issued the following statement regarding the College of DuPage trustees’ decision to give the college president a $762,000 bonus to quit early.

“As a local taxpayer I’m offended. As a lawmaker I’m outraged. The college’s priority should be educating students, not handing out golden parachutes. I don’t know how this college can come to Springfield and ask for state tax dollars or turn to DuPage County residents for local tax dollars given this disregard for public resources.”

Cullerton is working on legislation in response. Proposals he plans to file in the Illinois Senate would:

-- Prohibit the school from naming a building or program after the outgoing president if public resources are used to support that building or program.

-- Restrict public entities’ ability to include buyout provisions in management contracts and force disclosure of such provisions.

In addition, Cullerton will demand that College of DuPage officials explain their actions to the Senate Appropriations Committee, which oversees higher education budgeting. Cullerton is a member of that committee.

SPRINGFIELD – GovernorBruce Rauner took office after a swearing-in ceremony at the Capitol on Monday as outgoing Governor Pat Quinn stepped aside.

“I look forward to the new energy that Governor Rauner will bring to the Capitol. I am optimistic that this will be a time of renewed bipartisanship and growth for Illinois,” State Senator Tom Cullerton (D-Villa Park) said.

“Governor Quinn has had a long career as a dedicated public servant and has been a progressive advocate for the people of Illinois and it was an honor to serve during his tenure,” Cullerton said.

Recently elected members of the General Assembly will be sworn in during ceremonies on Wednesday.

SPRINGFIELD – When voters go to the polls in November 2016 they could be picking who should finish the term that former Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka would have held until 2019.

The Illinois Senate approved a plan Thursday creating a special election that coincides with next year’s general election to let voters select a comptroller.

State Senator Tom Cullerton (D-Villa Park) voted for the special election.

“This legislation is about giving people the opportunity to elect their own officials. This law empowers voters and creates a way to address future vacancies,” Cullerton said.

Last month, Gov. Pat Quinn appointed Jerry Stermer to serve as comptroller until Topinka’s current term expires Jan. 12. Governor-elect Bruce Rauner announced earlier this week he will appoint former Unilever executive Leslie Munger once Rauner takes office.

Under the legislation, if the position of comptroller, attorney general, secretary of state or treasurer becomes vacant with more than 28 months remaining in the term, the governor can appoint a successor to serve through the first half of the four-year term.

A special election would coincide with the next regularly scheduled general election, in this case Nov. 8, 2016. During that election, voters can choose who will serve the remaining two years of the term.

This process is similar to the way Senate vacancies are filled.

The legislation, HB 4576, was approved by a 37-15 vote; it now goes to the House for approval.

SPRINGFIELD— State Senator Tom Cullerton (D-Villa Park) released the following statement following the death of Illinois State Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka:

Judy Baar Topinka was one of the warmest, honest people in Illinois government and we will miss her. It says a lot that she had such a long, storied career and was still so well liked by people across the state. My prayers go out to her entire family.