Rockford Sun

Rep. Andrew Chesney (R-Freeport) says he plans to donate the $1,600 pay raise he and other legislators will receive after the salary boost was approved by Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

In a recent message posted on his official website, Chesney notes he voted against the raise, and while his initial reaction was to simply put the money back into the state's coffers, he believes the money is better spent via donations to local organizations.

"I will be donating my legislative pay raise to area organizations that reflect Northwest Illinoisans values," Chesney wrote.

While Chesney wrote that he has designated five organizations to receive the funds, he has not revealed the names of those organizations. Chesney notes the names of the groups receiving donations will be released in the coming month.

Chesney said that the organizations are places "where these funds can be far better spent than allowing them to be spent by bureaucrats and tax-and-spend progressive legislators."