Lawmakers and State Treasurer Mike Frerichs are urging House members and then the Governor to follow the lead of the Illinois Senate and approve $373 million in Monetary Assistance Program money — or, MAP grants for college students.
Governor Bruce Rauner has said he doesn’t want to see a piecemeal approach to passing a state budget. Illinois Treasurer Mike Frerichs says in this case, his former colleagues don’t have a choice in this case.
The average MAP grant award is $4,720 per student — lower than past years, but Frerichs says still makes a huge difference.
In other State news, to say former Congressman Ray LaHood is proud of his son Darin for being elected in Thursday’s special election to the seat he once had and Aaron Schock vacated is an understatement.
Ray LaHood says he hasn’t had to give his State Senator son much advice as he campaigned for the seat the last six months. But, he says he did give important advice now that his son will officially take the seat.
The former Transportation Secretary says he’s proud that his son has decided to carry on what he called the family legacy in Washington, even though he can stand on his own laurels without having LaHood as his last name.
