In a rare showing of bipartisan cooperation amid Illinois’ almost yearlong budget impasse, the General Assembly voted overwhelmingly Friday to approve $600 million in “stopgap” funding for higher education.
Advertisement
The Illinois House and Senate endorsed legislation to give $600 million to higher education and Gov. Bruce Rauner has indicated he will sign it soon. The aid was passed to the Senate after a 106-2 vote in the House.
In addition to funding specific universities and community colleges, the bill also outlined giving more than $169 million to fund MAP grants, $6 million for public high school Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy and $11 million to the University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System.
The money for the bill is possible because of the state’s Education Assistance Fund has a surplus. The Community College Board and our institutions like Chicago State University, Eastern Illinois University and Western Illinois University deserve the funding in this legislation and more.
UI President Timothy Killeen applauds the effort, but says the measure is insufficient as a total funding commitment for Fiscal 2016.
Paul McCann, vice president for business affairs, said the university is now determining where exactly the money will be spent.
“I think what they want to try to do is to negotiate something more for social services”, Brady said.
The Senate approved a separate measure Friday, also on a 55-0 vote, that includes identical funding for higher education and $441 million for social services from another dedicated fund. At issue is Rauner’s contention that the two sides have reached “impasse”, a technical stage in negotiations that could put the union in the position of having to either accept Rauner’s terms or strike.
The governor says he’s hopeful the General Assembly can build on the bipartisan momentum and finally pass a state budget.
Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno (ruh-DOHN’-yoh) says the plan is a model because IL has the money and the situation is a “reset in budgeting”.
The votes came as Chicago State University, which serves a predominantly minority enrollment in Chicago, said it would have to quit paying its employees at the end of the month because of the lack of state funding. She said her office would continue disbursing funds as they become available, with final payments being made in July.
Advertisement
“We have created a political freak show and a financial Armageddon for our state”, Franks, of Marengo, said during debate.
