It was a vocal lashing for Illinois leaders from the state’s senior U.S. Senator for failing to put together a budget nearly 8 months into the fiscal year.
Dick Durbin had some choice words for how he feels about his state when it comes to not appropriating money for higher education.
Durbin says higher education is at a breaking point and lawmakers should get the job done anyway possible, including locking them in the capitol this today when the governor gives his budget address.
In other State news, Senate Democrat leadership say it’s a second chance for students to get tuition assistance, but Republicans say it’s an empty promise.
Senate President John Cullerton’s office says they are sending the governor Senate Bill 2043 Tuesday while the governor’s Office of Management and Budget has already recommended a veto. The bill passed last month and Democrats say it would appropriate money for the tuition assistance, or MAP grants, and also provide state dollars for community colleges, but last month leading Senate Republican Matt Murphy said the bill is a “hollow, empty gesture.”
Republican legislators say their plan would fund MAP grants, community colleges and public universities but with companion legislation that would allow the governor’s office to manage available state resources.
