Illinois governor signs higher education stopgap funding bill

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

World | Mon Apr 25, 2016 12:21pm EDT

Illinois governor signs higher education stopgap funding bill

Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner on Monday signed into law a bill to send $600 million to cash-starved state universities and community colleges, calling the measure "a first step toward compromise between Democrats and Republicans."

An impasse between the Republican governor and Democrats who control the legislature has left Illinois without a budget 10 months into fiscal 2016.

In bipartisan votes in the House and Senate on Friday, lawmakers approved $600 million, or 34 percent, of the $1.7 billion Democrats had earmarked for higher education spending for the whole fiscal year, which began July 1.

"Now is the time to build on this bipartisan momentum and focus on enacting a truly balanced budget for fiscal years 2016-2017 alongside meaningful reforms that create jobs and free up resources for education, social services and infrastructure," Rauner said in a statement.

Illinois Comptroller Leslie Munger said on Friday that her office would immediately start processing payments for the universities, colleges and for college student grants funded by the legislation.

(Reporting by Karen Pierog and Dave McKinney; Editing by Paul Simao)

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-illinois-education-idUSKCN0XM1W2

[Teamster Jeff]

1. Not so much compromise as it is Rauner realizing how hated he is here.

[Buzz Clik]

2. Incredible how two neighboring states -- IL and WI -- with fantastic universities...

... are striving to destroy them.

I find it stunning.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

3. Walker's got some help, I think. Rauner's on his own on this one.

The repubs downstate know the colleges and Universities are big economic engines & employers, even if they're filled with dadburned liberals, so they jumped at a clean bill to fund them.

[Buzz Clik]

4. That's encouraging. A lot of talented people in academia in both states are getting damaged.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

5. And I'm one of 'em (or so I tell myself...). The worst part is trying to attract new talent here.

Between the operational funding games and the pension issues I don't see why a top notch educator would consider coming to Illinois right now.

[Buzz Clik]

6. ... and some are very seriously considering leaving....