Leatherneck Nation

What in the **** is wrong with these people?

Every one of them should be out of a job. Funny how they get their checks put on hold and things begin to get accomplished. What a bunch of strokes.

The senate and House agree to pass the bill to help pay the public university as part of the emergency assistance Western will receive about 30% of there budget.

Finally, there is some good news coming out of the General Assembly:

Bill to provide $600M for higher education gets bipartisan approval at Capitol.

Illinois lawmakers have approved a bill to spend $600 million on universities, community colleges, and grants for low income students.

It is the same bill (SB2059) that got hung up in the House Thursday night just before lawmakers were expected to approve it.

The House voted Friday 106-2 to pass the bill. The Senate followed shortly after on a 55-0 vote.

Supporters acknowledged it was only a stop-gap funding bill that would buy time for lawmakers to develop a comprehensive state budget.

http://wqad.com/2016/04/22/illinois-law ... ebook_WQAD
not a long term solutions but you will take anything right now.

ibleedpurpleandgold wrote:http://wqad.com/2016/04/22/illinois-law ... ebook_WQAD
not a long term solutions but you will take anything right now.

Yea, it sounds like the plan is that this will cover universities until September when the fall tuition payments come in (which will help keep things going for a bit longer), and really hammer out something more long-term over the summer. Not ideal, but better than nothing. I wonder what impact this might have on the people who were notified of being laid off earlier this week...many of which were supposed to be temporary pending funding.

ST_Lawson wrote:

ibleedpurpleandgold wrote:http://wqad.com/2016/04/22/illinois-law ... ebook_WQAD
not a long term solutions but you will take anything right now.

Yea, it sounds like the plan is that this will cover universities until September when the fall tuition payments come in (which will help keep things going for a bit longer), and really hammer out something more long-term over the summer. Not ideal, but better than nothing. I wonder what impact this might have on the people who were notified of being laid off earlier this week...many of which were supposed to be temporary pending funding.

yeah you have to think the state would have there act together before September but you can never trust anything now.

State Comptroller Leslie Munger said she would immediately begin processing payments for higher education, even before Rauner signs the bill.

Munger said:

“It is heartening that the Governor and legislative leaders have come together to authorize funding for our universities, community colleges and student MAP grants. I have directed my staff to begin processing payments immediately, giving top priority to students and the institutions that are suffering the most.

The $600 million in funding for this legislation comes from the state’s Education Assistance Fund, which today has $354 million on hand. Those dollars will allow us to immediately pay student MAP grants and work closely with our universities and community colleges to ensure they have the resources they need to avoid further cuts and closings. We will continue disbursing funds as they become available, with final payments being made in July. Our students and schools have paid a heavy price for this budget impasse, and we will do everything possible to provide long-overdue relief.

It is my deep hope that the spirit of cooperation we saw today will continue and lead to the comprehensive balanced budget that our state so badly needs.”

Here's the President's take on it: http://www.wiu.edu/news/newsrelease.php ... e_id=13589