158 Comments - Just Me - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 1:22 pm: Madigan is allowing it to be a Senate bill? Wow. That must mean there is huge trust built up between the Governor and the Speaker. - How Ironic - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 1:23 pm: @Rich Miller “Stuff goes off the rails” Are you talking about the Gov and his ‘helpful remarks’ around any potential deal? - Honeybear - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 1:23 pm: Any word on the “operation funds”? - Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 1:23 pm: It’s in the House. So, they’ll amend it, send it to the Senate and then the Senate will vote on it immediately. SOP. - Cassandra - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 1:24 pm: Hmm…how much of a property tax increase? I can’t wait. - Anon - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 1:25 pm: Any news on the impact to social service funding in the “deal”? - Anonymous - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 1:25 pm: One point I am not clear on. Is this deal just a stopgap to get to the elections, or is this an actual budget for the entire year? - Norseman - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 1:28 pm: Just Me, more of Cullerton/Madigan trust/control issue. It doesn’t matter to Rauner. - Huh? - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 1:30 pm: Have the MOUs been signed? - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 1:31 pm: I’m “Green” on this. Now let’s see the final-final version. The skeleton is there… - illinois manufacturer - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 1:34 pm: It’s sounds like higher education is for the year if it’s a billion. Most of that is coming from the dedicated funding source they found……I was asked by someone in the know more than I. I basically said what Rich said. On higher ed I would not mind seeing it tied to that source and just made permanent. Then the focus can be on long term viability that is the enrollment issue. - From the 'Dale to HP - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 1:35 pm: Not sure why the GA or Rauner would mandate a property tax increase, especially before Chicago went to a referendum to lift PTELL. - Formerly Known as Frenchie M - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 1:37 pm: Pension reform? While there’s a looming threat of an multi-thousand worker AFSCME strike? That makes no sense whatsoever. Settle contract, then work on pension reform. - retired guy - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 1:39 pm: Just saying~ as a video follower of the legislature, if they would spend even half as much time dumping their “points of personal privilege”, resolutions patting themselves on the back, thanking their interns and (worst) spending literally hours lauding one of their members who is retiring, the people’s work and debating on real issues could take center stage. Yes, I know the committees are operating blah, blah, blah but, geez, have a private party in the evening for all the social stuff. - Hostages 'R Us - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 1:40 pm: Typically people get what they pay for. Chicago’s property taxes have been held too low for too long by artificial means, so it makes sense those property taxes will have to increase. - Joe M - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 1:41 pm: ==It’s sounds like higher education is for the year if it’s a billion== The full year’s budget for higher ed is just shy of $2 billion annually, so I would guess $1 billion is for half a year. But what about the $1.3 to $1.4 billion that higher ed got shorted for FY 16? I guess Durkin was right a while back when he said the 30% back in April might be all higher ed got for the year FY 16. If that is the case, then Rauner’s 30% proposed cut for 16 ends up being a 70% cut. Way to go Bruce /s - Man with a plan - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 1:43 pm: Never lose faith that big things can get done when we’re headed into a nice long holiday weekend when nobody watches the news. - Mama - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 1:44 pm: Rich, is there any money for higher education in the stop- gap bill? What about revenue? Any new revenue in the stop- gap? - Peters Post - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 1:45 pm: I was for freezing property taxes before I voted to raise property taxes. Pretty risky vote even in the suburbs. - Chucktownian - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 1:47 pm: The wisecrack around these parts was that the higher ed drama last year was so the governor could make sure the universities (except U of I which always has gobs of cash) had used up all their reserves and, if the lights were actually still on, they would happily take whatever they got. This wisecrack was right on target it appears. All of our best faculty, administrators, and staff have already left or are in the process of leaving. Thanks a lot, Bruce. - Chris - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 1:49 pm: “before Chicago went to a referendum to lift PTELL” Um, because the school year starts before a referendum would be held? Because everyone who pays attention to the city knows that it would be-at best-50/50 to pass (I think it would be far less likely)? Because of everyone’s trust gap with Rahm? Because ‘everyone’ here sez “no more money for CPS until they raise taxes”, and the parameters of the deal require step one (levy increase) and then step two (pension ‘parity’). All that said, if it is structured as Springfield setting an increase, rather than giving CPS authority to raise the levy by “up to” some amount, I would be surprised. So, I expect it to be authority for Rahm’s board to enact an increase without a referendum, such that Rahm is the one actually increasing property tax (again). - Cassiopeia - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 1:56 pm: So is this just for FY16 or FY16 and some FY17? - DuPage Saint - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 1:56 pm: Did they run this past Sandeck and is ok e With it? - Anonymous - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 1:59 pm: Get ready for the tsunami of increased income taxes and property taxes. It’s what happens in IL politics!! Sigh - Anonymous - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 2:02 pm: Chucktownian—-Those university employees have been leaving as droves of students have left places like EIU, WIU, SIU the last 10 years. As a reminder, Rauner has been guv about 18 months. - Christopher Ball - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 2:03 pm: Is the CPS property tax supposed to raise new revenue or simply allocate a portion to pension payments, as the pre 1995 law did? - Small town taxpayer - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 2:03 pm: ===CPS would get a sizable chunk of that.=== I will guess that all or almost all of this new money will be spent in a few days after it is approved. The money will go to fund the new CTU contract and avoid a possible strike just before school is scheduled to start. ===Legislature would mandate property tax increase for CPS=== Higher property taxes are badly needed in Chicago to fund both the City of Chicago but also the CPS. With the increase being a “mandate” from Springfield it will be much less of a political problem for Rahm. - AlabamaShake - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 2:04 pm: **Get ready for the tsunami of increased income taxes and property taxes. It’s what happens in IL politics!! Sigh** LOL - the #1 problem with IL’s budget is that we have NOT increased taxes. If Blago would have increased taxes several years ago when he and the GA should have, we wouldn’t be in this mess at all. If Quinn/MJM would have made the income tax increase permanent instead of temporary, and if Quinn wouldn’t have refused to go .25% higher, we wouldn’t be in the problem we’re in. So, yes, we will see increased income taxes. Because we sure as heck need it. - Chucktownian - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 2:07 pm: Actually I’ve been here a while. They haven’t been leaving like it is now. They’ve been retiring, yes, but leaving for other jobs at the heart of their careers, not so much. But you continue to make your gross generalizations without evidence. That’s the GOP way. - Anonymous - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 2:14 pm: ==But you continue to make your gross generalizations without evidence. That’s the GOP way.== So enrollment has been decreasing for years because of retirements? Interesting theory. Wrong, but interesting. - The Lowly LA - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 2:14 pm: Honeybear, SB 2055 is currently the state ops bill but is of course subject to change or be combined with one of the four senate bill vehicles they already have over in the House. - Formerly Known As... - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 2:14 pm: =we have NOT increased taxes= The state income tax is currently 25% higher now than it was in 2010. As a fact, we HAVE increased taxes. Perhaps not as high as some want or feel we need, but the 2011 tax increase has still left us with an increase over the 2010 rate. - NorthsideNoMore - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 2:15 pm: Increase in (even to previous rate or above) Income tax has always been in the works…question is, how many GOP votes go on it in the house? - Formerly Known as Frenchie M - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 2:16 pm: — Did they run this past Sandeck and is ok e With it? — After last night’s interview with Sandack — who in the world cares what Sandack thinks? He’s rabidly, rabidly bizarre. - City Zen - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 2:19 pm: =Get ready for the tsunami of increased income taxes…== Not if you’re retired. - Anonymous - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 2:19 pm: Yes of course we have increased income taxes for the past 5 years. That fact seems to be ignored by several posters. Chuck, EIU lost 23% of their student body in a 5 year period of 2010-2014. Tell me again who was in charge when they couldn’t attract and/or retain students. Pretty sad when these issues, clearly owned by the democrats, are left at Rauner’s door step. - Chuckvegas Alum - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 2:21 pm: I’ve worked in higher education in IL for almost 20 years. There hasn’t been an exodus like this one in that time. I’m trying to keep two departments running with no budget and with continuous staff retirements/job offers at other institutions out of state. Tenured faculty and senior staff don’t normally sell their homes for 80% of the value and leave to start over somewhere else. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 2:22 pm: Rauner is the ONLY governor not to find Higher Education at any level since Illinois had a Higher Educational institution. Yep. Rauner owns the decimation of Easter, or Western, or a Southern Campus… Rauner chose NOT to fund Higher Ed. That’s a Rauner legacy. Period. - Chucktownian - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 2:23 pm: Your impeccable use of obfuscation Mr. Anonymous GOP troll is amazing. You originally made an evidence-free point about retirements not enrollments. But, since you asked, actually enrollments have dropped at regional universities in Illinois because: 1) Significantly fewer high school students in the region 2) state university tuition in Illinois is too high because of funding cuts 3) competing states that fund their state universities are competing more effectively to get Illinois students 4) the University of Illinois has opened up the doors and pretty much has the same admissions requirements as the regional universities so students choose to be in a classroom of 300 because the parties are better The sad thing, of course, is that these Illinois regionals are good universities, generally better than their counterparts in Indiana, Missouri, and Kentucky but are suffering mightily because of the mistakes of the politicians here. But continue to peddle your evidence-free accusations if it amuses you. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 2:25 pm: If Eastern closes, if Western losses Accredidation, if Chicago State is borded up… if one of the SIU campuses ceases to exist… Rauner will own the borded up windows, the overgrown grass on the Quads, the empty student apartments, the run down downtowns… No funding is owned by a Governor. That’s zero funds. Zero. - MSIX - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 2:35 pm: @Chucktownian =All of our best faculty, administrators, and staff have already left or are in the process of leaving.= Well, maybe not “all.” - Rod - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 2:35 pm: So pension reform relating to the Chicago Teachers Pension Fund must pass the Assembly before parity payments could be expected. The easiest way to do this would include merging the statewide teachers pension fund with the CTPF. Which is what the Civic Federation has called for. CPS would be required to make payments to that new fund on the money they owned to CTPF. Effectively that debt burden could be amortized to reduce the burden on the CPS operating budget. Once upon a time the Chicago Fund was in so much better shape than the statewide fund than the CPS fund that teachers in Chicago would riot over the idea, I am not sure it would make any difference any more. - TinyDancer(FKA Sue) - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 2:37 pm: =Legislature would mandate property tax increase for CPS= Does this restore the dedicated tax to CTPF? - Anonymous - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 2:38 pm: “CPS’ cut of that would be about 38 percent, which works out to $95 million.” So 1.4% is going to agree to a CPS bailout? I am sure that was one of his more recent poison pills. Is there a MOU? - Scamp640 - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 2:39 pm: @ Anonymous 2:19. Nothing like blaming the victim here. Let me help you understand the plight of higher education in Illinois. First of all, I am not going to hold EIU leadership blameless. There may have been things that could have been done differently. But there are much more important, political and structural issues that the state of Illinois has willfully ignored for many years. First, both Democrats and Republicans have cut funding to higher education for more than a decade. And these cuts have been out of proportion to student enrollment declines. With less state support and fewer tuition dollars, tuition will inevitably increase. Higher tuition affecting Illinois public universities is a huge issue driving students away, when other surrounding states provide better support for their universities. Illinois has a demographic problem with slowing population growth - which means a smaller student applicant pool. That means competition for students is increasingly competitive. There is nothing wrong with competition. But fund the universities appropriately, allow these universities to offer a competitive tuition rate and desirable programs, and let Illinois schools draw in students from surrounding states — instead of the opposite situation which is happening now. And then Rauner’s actions (and yes, this is Rauner’s fault), to hold hostage Higher Ed / MAP funding for almost a year has truly undermined every university in Illinois, but especially the regional public universities. Why would students attend EIU or Chicago State if there was genuine concerns that these universities would even open. How could families from lower-income families even consider going to college if the MAP grants weren’t funded. So, this is why most public universities in Illinois have struggled with student enrollment. Again, maybe university leaders could be doing something different. But I hold our Governor(s) and GA responsible. And Rauner is first among the leaders deserving blame because of his reckless and feckless treatment of college students and university employees. It is shameful. And really, really bad for the future of Illinois. Instead of blaming EIU for its challenges, you should be angry has heck about why Illinois is not investing more in its future by fully funding universities and community colleges. - Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 2:40 pm: ===agree to a CPS bailout?=== Take a freaking breath. Do you want a deal or not? Also, if you think $95 million is a bailout, then you’re insane. - RNUG - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 2:42 pm: Wonder if Rauner’s required pension “reform” is just to pass any bill that more or less meets that criteria or if he has to have constitutionally legal pension reform the IL SC will agree with when the employees sue? - Huh? - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 2:47 pm: Anon @ 2:38 was me. My comment was meant to be snarky. I know that $95 million is no where near what CPS needs. And I thoroughly agree that a deal is needed. This mess has gone on for far too long . - Cathartt Representative - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 2:49 pm: $95 million isn’t a bailout. Rauner cost CPS more than that by deliberately sabotaging their last bond sale. - Chucktownian - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 2:49 pm: @MSIX: “All” was a word too far. My apologies. @Scamp640 covered it well but the U of I opening its doors to save itself the last few years is also a significant factor. - TinyDancer(FKA Sue) - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 2:50 pm: ==Once upon a time the Chicago Fund was in so much better shape than the statewide fund== It was 100% funded - until 1995 when the the Republican governor and GA gave the dedicated tax stream that was funding it to Richie Daley. - atsuishin - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 2:50 pm: those on this blog who think taxes are too low are whistling past the grave yard. I was just in Atlanta this weekend and the enormous number of IL plates on the road was shocking. The additional tax increase will trigger an accelerated out migration from illinois that might well be called an evacuation. with fewer bodies, just how will all those cozy government jobs be funded? - Illinois Bob - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 2:51 pm: @scamp640 =With less state support and fewer tuition dollars, tuition will inevitably increase.= Absolutely false. What needed to happen was to figure out ways to provide better service a for lower cost as just about every other private service industry has. The government mindset in leadership there was incapable of that, which is why it has to be replaced to find people who know how to create an institution that students want and can deliver quality education at an affordable price. - From the 'Dale to HP - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 2:53 pm: This deal looks worse and worse for CPS by the minute… everyone else in the state can relax. - Illinois bob - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 2:57 pm: @scamp640 =competitive tuition rate and desirable programs, and let Illinois schools draw in students from surrounding states — instead of the opposite situation which is happening now= That has nothing to do with state funding, scamp. The University of Iowa is a notable example. Now many students from Illinois who are accepted to UI CHOOSE to go there instead because of the campus experience and the quality of undergrad education. U of I is able to be arrogant and dismissive of students for the time being, but their attitude is shared by the dying state institutions. My kids chose Arizona State over U of I because of better undergrad business programs, the weather of course, and the fact that they got huge scholarships for, well, SCHOLARSHIP. Contrast that with Illinois Universities that base “scholarships” on need and you see at least one problem with management. - A guy - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 2:57 pm: ===This deal looks worse and worse for CPS by the minute…=== My guess is they’re pleased they’re even part of the deal. ===everyone else in the state can relax.=== No they can’t. - JL in So IL - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 2:57 pm: Does funding for K-12 include the Early Childhood Education grant funding? - 47th Ward - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 2:58 pm: ===This deal looks worse and worse for CPS by the minute=== Not sure I agree with you. From what I’m able to decipher thanks to Rich’s reporting, this deal would let CPS raise its property tax levy without going to a referendum. This would be a one-time hike, but if done thoughtfully, could enable CPS to take care of its pension problem by itself, without more classroom cuts. It seems like a fair and reasonable start to me, especially if the state someday gets all local school districts to pay the pensions for teachers. That would be huge progress if it ever comes to pass. - Illinois Bob - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 2:59 pm: @Rich =Also, if you think $95 million is a bailout, then you’re insane.= You’re absolutely right, Rich. If you can hold all other state money per student about inflation and throw $95 million to make the deal, you make the deal. - City Zen - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 3:02 pm: == the University of Illinois has opened up the doors and pretty much has the same admissions requirements as the regional universities== If UofI has opened their doors, it’s not to Illinois residents as they enroll less in-state students than they did 20 years ago. - Chucktownian - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 3:04 pm: It would be great if they’d let all school districts in the next year raise their property taxes without a referendum. A lot of small school districts in trouble around here would love to be able to do that. - Rod - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 3:04 pm: Since the Speaker was actually opposed to the State of Illinois providing annual payments to the Chicago teachers pension fund, because he believed pensions should be the obligations of the schools districts who employee teachers not the State, the summary Rich has presented represents a very major concession of the part of the Speaker. But if the reforms to teachers pensions don’t meet the Governor’s standards and he veto’s the bill, CPS is right back in trouble yet again all be it with more revenue. - A guy - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 3:06 pm: == the University of Illinois has opened up the doors and pretty much has the same admissions requirements as the regional universities== This does not appear to be true in the high school districts in my area. People consistently bemoan that their kids can’t get into a school they’ve been supporting for generations, yadda, yadda, yadda. Another couple of graduates I met suggested NIU was not an easy entry either. - 47th Ward - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 3:06 pm: ===A lot of small school districts in trouble around here would love to be able to do that.=== When they eventually pass the pension cost shift, I think those districts will get what they wish, good and hard, like Chicago is about to. - City Zen - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 3:07 pm: ===With less state support and fewer tuition dollars, tuition will inevitably increase.== Don’t tell that to Purdue where they’ve managed to freeze tuition for the 5th straight year with no tax or funding increases. - Anonymous - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 3:07 pm: How is this being paid for? What about 9 Billion in unpaid bills? - Anonymous - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 3:08 pm: Chuck, I never mentioned retirements. Facts are a stubborn thing brother. The University of Illinois at UC is doing just fine with their enrollment. Maybe the top brass at EIU was spending to much time at the Charleston Country Club in 2008-09-10 and so on. Bruce can’t be blamed for a mismanaged university when it happened way before he became guv. Sorry that is hard for you to comprehend. 2500 students times $10,000 tuition/year = $25 million/year. Add in book fees, dorm fees, food fees and you are talking about a LOT of juice. - Chucktownian - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 3:09 pm: ===If UofI has opened their doors, it’s not to Illinois residents as they enroll less in-state students than they did 20 years ago.=== But they are now accepting students with ACT scores in the lower 20s with GPAs below 3.0. That would’ve been unthinkable even five years ago. U of I may be recruiting more international students (more revenue from international tuition!) but it’s certainly not that hard to get into U of I anymore. Top half of your class, a 2.8 GPA and a 21 ACT will do it now. If they kept their admissions requirements from just five years ago, there would be at least 35% fewer undergrads there now. - 47th Ward - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 3:09 pm: ===How is this being paid for?=== Remember, this is the stop-gap, six-month budget. Of course, they need almost 12 months of normal revenue to pay for six months of spending, but that problem is going to have to wait until after the election. - Mama - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 3:11 pm: ==- RNUG - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 2:42 pm: “Wonder if Rauner’s required pension “reform” is just to pass any bill that more or less meets that criteria or if he has to have constitutionally legal pension reform the IL SC will agree with when the employees sue?” == RNUG, I have a gut feeling Rauner will insist on the ironclad constitutionally legal pension reform. The only good news is - - they can not legally take the person’s pension away without each person’s permission. - Mama - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 3:11 pm: RNUG, please correct me if I’m wrong about that. - Anonymous - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 3:12 pm: So far this is better than I expected. I hope the bills in question were drafted by Cullerton people and not Rauner staff. My worry comes from a deep lack of trust. Also, from a belief that there is not the cash flow from state revenue to support this rate of expenditure. Hope I am wrong on both counts. - Anonymous - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 3:13 pm: I am calling BS on the UIUC admissions that Chuck just listed. I will come back here and apologize if I am wrong. Those GPA’s and ACT scores will not get you into Illinois. - #5 - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 3:15 pm: How does replying “with no tax or funding increases” rebut “with less state support?” Purdue’s own Narratives for 2015-2017 Operating and Capital Budget Request states, “Continuing state funding at current levels at these sites, plus a small increase for inflation, is crucial to maintain current service levels and to support planned student headcount growth and new programs.” - illini - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 3:16 pm: Second attempt - This thread is getting to one of my hot button issues - higher education. I never thought I would see the decimation and the willful destruction of our institutions that I am seeing today. Illinois used to be a model for other states to emulate - this unfortunately is no longer the case. The last of 5 generations of my family has just graduated from the UofI. And my niece is on track to get her Masters from ISU in 4 years. Other than the the private colleges in Chicago and some smaller, well respected, liberal arts colleges ( McKendree comes to mind ) we are quickly destroying the infrastructure that is intended to help grow our state. And this is willful. It is not an accident. And of my brothers and cousins children, many of who went out of state, none have returned to Illinois. Some institutions will survive, but will only be able to do so with great difficulty given the uncertainty of our stats leaders. I’m sure BVR is still trying to figure out why his appearance at The UoI was protested this spring and he was ridiculed. Could it be because the University only got 30% of the funding that had been previously received??????? And multiply that by all the other public colleges as well as the Community Colleges in the State and you have a real crisis. Willy is right - Governors Own. - Last Bull Moose - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 3:18 pm: Anonymous at 3:12 was me. Sorry - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 3:18 pm: Dear ALL ” - Anonymous -” Stop. Stop and take 13 seconds snd pick a name. Seriously. It’s days like this with SO much going on, the collective that is “You” and the ridiculously high number of conflicting ” - Anonymous - ” is too much. Please help the rest of us out. End. Rant. - A guy - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 3:19 pm: ==Top half of your class, a 2.8 GPA and a 21 ACT will do it now.== Hard to imagine a kid with a 2.8 GPA wouldn’t score higher than a 21 on the ACT. I’ve met some very smart kids who wanted to go to U of I and were rejected or wait-listed. At least 2 of them went to Iowa instead, which was their second choice. One of those kids is a nephew who’s a very good student i.e. B+. He scored 28 on the ACT after taking it 3 times. (never was a great test taker) Illinois was a “no”. 4 other Big 10 schools a “yes”- Iowa, Neb, Indiana, and Purdue. Also a yes from Loyola and Marquette. - Get a Job!! - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 3:20 pm: Mama, I don’t want to answer for RNUG, but there’s no “ironclad constitutionally legal pension reform” that doesn’t include true consideration. The Governor actually supports a Cullerton pension plan which RNUG has opined on several times. It is far from “ironclad constitutionally legal.” - Politix - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 3:23 pm: “Did they run this past Sandeck and is ok e With it?” Why would they? When you’re bought and paid for your opinion doesn’t matter. - N'ville - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 3:27 pm: So Governor Edg…er…Rauner decided to agree to what was “doable”? - Warthog - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 3:27 pm: A Guy, you are right. Admissions would laugh at a kid with a 21 ACT score and a 2.8 GPA. Maybe Chuck meant those kids could get into Illinois Community College. - 47th Ward - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 3:30 pm: ===Brady says there needs to be a way to avoid the perception of what Republicans and downstaters call a CPS “bailout.”=== Maybe the Governor could just go on another tour downstate and apologize for his regrettable rhetoric and foolish remarks that so poisoned the well of public opinion about CPS. Maybe he could say a few words about how we’re all one state, and we need to support each other, and put aside parochial calls of regionalism. You know, the opposite of what he’s been doing for two years. How much time and money did Rauner waste to brand any reasonable aid to CPS as a “bailout” of Chicago? The cynicism has come home to roost. Does anyone think he’ll learn from this? Me neither. - Anonymous - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 3:33 pm: ==Those GPA’s and ACT scores will not get you into Illinois.== Unless you’re 6′10 with a decent jump shot, or run a 4.4 40 - Skeptic - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 3:34 pm: https://admissions.illinois.edu/Apply/Freshman/profile Show me which programs are admitting students with a 21 ACT score. - Earnest - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 3:34 pm: >Maybe the Governor could just go on another tour downstate and apologize for his regrettable rhetoric and foolish remarks that so poisoned the well of public opinion about CPS. Maybe he could say a few words about how we’re all one state, and we need to support each other, and put aside parochial calls of regionalism. You know, the opposite of what he’s been doing for two years. I think he will actually do that. Not now, of course, but when he campaigns for re-election in 2018. - Christopher - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 3:35 pm: 47th Ward, thank you for saying that about Rauner terming it a “bailout.” it’s not a bailout and why the Democrats have failed to protest this term puzzles me. - A guy - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 3:35 pm: 47, it’s getting harder and harder to figure out what you’re rooting for. /s - Tax rveryone - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 3:36 pm: If you are raising property tax then give the city the ability to tax income for its school that is at least fairer. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 3:38 pm: Reality? Rauner will sign things he railed and “campaigned” against for the last 16 months. Raunerites in the GA are going to be “green” for things they never thought they’d be “green” on. That’s NOT the way to run a railroad. - 47th Ward - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 3:39 pm: The HGOPs are afraid to vote for this now because of how Rauner labeled it. It’s pathetic. This is why leaders need to be careful when they speak. Words have consequences. Rauner’s words are making it much harder for him to get a deal. Once again, he’s put his friends and allies in a very tough spot. - Chucktownian - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 3:39 pm: LOL. It does depend on the program of course on acceptance criteria but I’ve met some of these students. Keep your heads in the sand if you like. - Scamp640 - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 3:40 pm: @ Illinois Bob. Sorry, but you are mostly wrong. I earned by Ph.D. from the University of Iowa. As a teaching assistant, I saw that, yes, there were some students in Iowa City from Illinois who liked Iowa City better than college towns in Illinois. I mean, it is a great place. However, I also saw many, many students who attended Iowa because they could not get into Northwestern or Illinois. Iowa was their safety school. My daughter now attends the University of Illinois. She wanted to become a horticulture major but that degree is no longer available due to funding shortfalls. Can you imagine a land grant university with a huge Ag department not offering a horticulture major. Iowa State does. So does Wisconsin. But Illinois cut theirs due to funding issues. And I know you are big on the private sector efficiency argument. But as Governor Rauner is so effectively showing, applying narrow business principles is a failure. I have seen first hand that we have increased dramatically the kinds of efficiencies on campus. We use software for tracking human resource issues. The number of civil service employees in each department has gone down. However, for every efficiency gain, there are added costs. For example, we have compliance issues related to Title IX and federal grant compliance. We are increasing the proportion of courses offered online. But that means added tech support and added expenses for software licensing. I know you want simple answers and solutions. You want something for nothing. But I am here to tell you that if the people of Illinois want world class universities then, they have to pay for it. And Illinois has world class universities. And at least one world class PUBLIC university. Arizona, not so much. I mean, Arizona State is a good university. But it is not a great university. Don’t fool yourself. Research productivity international cache is much higher at Illinois. If you want evidence, check out this 2016 ranking of world universities. University of Illinois is #36 in the world. Arizona State is #189. Arizona State University isn’t even the best university in Arizona. https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2016/world-ranking#!/page/0/length/25/name/ariz/sort_by/rank_label/sort_order/asc/cols/rank_only ASU does have a better football program than Illinois, though. And a more scenic football stadium. Hopefully Lovie Smith will also show that not only are Illinois public universities better than what Arizona offers, but its athletics are better too. Okay, I am overreaching on the athletics part. - A guy - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 3:41 pm: Worth updating: ==- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 2:40 pm: ===agree to a CPS bailout?=== Take a freaking breath. Do you want a deal or not? Also, if you think $95 million is a bailout, then you’re insane.=== PS: Bite him. - Augie - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 3:41 pm: Down staters think its a bailout because Rauner and many Republicans spent a lot of money calling it just that. Don’t act so surprised that it happened. - Chris - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 3:43 pm: “give the city the ability to tax income for its school” Isn’t all special treatment for CPS verboten, and isn’t giving Rahm that sort of power akin to a vote for Joe Stalin? And, anyway, it wouldn’t be giving the city authority, but CPS, which is quite far afield from what *any* state allows. - A guy - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 3:46 pm: === She wanted to become a horticulture major but that degree is no longer available === You dodged a bullet there, eh? (just kidding! hoping to lighten things up a bit) - Mama - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 3:47 pm: - Get a Job!! - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 3:20 pm:– Good to know. Thanks - DuPage - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 3:48 pm: Increase property taxes without a referendum? So much for the “Rauner property tax freeze”. It fits right in with everything else Rauner has said and done, inaccuracies, invalid numbers, deliberate deception, and outright lies. Mostly outright lies. - Honeybear - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 3:51 pm: Dr. Scamp, don’t bother engaging Bob. Seriously. but thanks for posting the ratings. I love seeing those. Thank you for your academic service. I’d be thrilled if my girls stayed in state. U of I has a NROTC program. That’s what they are going for. - illini - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 3:55 pm: @Scamp640 - hold your own, you are doing very well. I won’t bite on Bobs bait anymore - I’ve done it before. For him it is always the victim that is at fault! - warthog - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 3:58 pm: When confronted with more facts, Chuck says “he knows some people who got in with a 21 and 2.8″ Sure you do Chuck, sure you do. - Chucktownian - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 4:06 pm: Look at the UIUC admissions “freshman profile” page and then read the fine print. 25% of students admitted are below those ACT and GPA ranges. I rest my case. - Downstater - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 4:10 pm: College data reports the following about UIUC: ACT Composite 28 average 26-31 range of middle 50% - Augie - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 4:11 pm: OW is spot on! Be careful when you spend millions trying to lable proposals as bailouts, collectivism, cronyism, corrupt etc. etc. Then all of a sudden your own name is signed on the very bill you rallied against. The Govenors campaign style of governing was a complete mess and hurt Illinois very bad. Even after a small agreement is reach trust will be sparse in Springfield. - Six Degrees of Separation - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 4:11 pm: For those focusing on the pension issue, it has long been bandied about here that the only real meat on the bone left after the ILSC decision is the local pickup issue for TRS. Let’s see if that is where the action is. - Chucktownian - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 4:11 pm: And you’ll notice that 25% of students are below those ranges. That covers up a multitude of sins, folks. - Chucktownian - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 4:13 pm: One of the colleges even lists a bottom to the admissions range of a 23 ACT composite and a GPA of 3.08. 25% of the students admitted to that college were below that criteria. - Anonymous - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 4:14 pm: Chuck, give it up man. They may admit someone who got a 3.5 and only had a 21 or 22, in a few programs. Some kids work hard and some kids go to easier schools. Some don’t test well. Or as someone else pointed out, if you are standout athlete. See how many kids get admitted to business or engineering with a 21 and a 2.8. Good night Chuck. - Chucktownian - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 4:16 pm: I think I made my point pretty adequately now. Those scores certainly won’t get you into engineering but the good students are going to Purdue for that. - illini97 - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 4:19 pm: “but the good students go to Purdue for (Engineering)?” Dude. - RNUG - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 4:21 pm: Mama, et al, I’m guessing if they go with the Cullerton bill of forced choice between two alternatives that lacks “keep what you have”, it will be found unconstitutional. If they include that “keep” option and possibly one of the previous partial buyout proposals, it will probably be constitutional … but may not save much, if any, money. I’ve also got some doubts about the legality / tax treatment of the partial buyout. It will most likely pass IRS muster if the buyout amount is equal to or less than the amount of the employee contributions. If it were to exceed that amount, I’d be will to bet a large sum the IRS would not go along with it. Given that limitation, I don’t think many people would opt for it. Whatever they pass, I hope it includes objective consuling on the financial ramifications of such a decision. - Scamp640 - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 4:21 pm: @ A Guy. 3:46pm Heehee. I appreciate your comment. Yes, when my daughter said she wanted to major in horticulture I chuckled to myself. But she loves gardening. And she is good at it. And you would think that the flagship, land grant university in Illinois would be able to offer this degree with its emphasis on applied sciences, such as agriculture, biology, chemistry, soil sciences, and entomology. Now she will probably major in some underpaid humanities or social science discipline like me, such as art history or 18th century french literature. - A guy - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 4:36 pm: Scamp, thanks for reading it in the spirit it was offered. Like you, I’m a parent who has greeted different Major “choices” with a painted smile on my face. Even prayed a major would be cancelled for lack of interest. As long as there’s no lack of tuition being paid, these majors continue. It sounds like your daughter will pursue her education in horticulture less formally, but pursue it none the less. Hey, it’s something wonderful to fall back on in case that 18th Century French Lit market cools! lol. You’re fun. - Demoralized - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 4:45 pm: A Guy: My major in collectivism is certainly panning out. - illini - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 4:45 pm: Trying again. @Scamp640 - I got both my degrees in the social sciences from the UofI and have been able to survive in the real world for 45 years. Your daughter will do just fine. Would not change anything ( well, maybe a few things ) and still greatly appreciate the experience I had. This world class university is facing difficult times, but a degree from there does open a lot of doors. - Juvenal - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 4:46 pm: Oswego Willy nails it. He’s been warning Republicans for 16 months that at the end of the day, they were going to be voting for all of the things that they have been railing against. He also did a good job of forewarning that they were never going to get everything that they were demanding. They. Didn’t. Listen. And so, Ron Sandack gets the best of both worlds. Last night, he got to be on t.v. defending cuts to programs that serve homeless children. Defending gridlock on the very day the Daily Herald was trumpeting “Enough!” Soon, he will have to go home and explain to all of the Tea Party folks he got so agitated why he is returning with less in hand than he promised he would deliver, and why he compromised on things he shouted for over a year we should never compromise on. #winning - Former hillrod - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 4:50 pm: Southeast Missouri State in Cape Girardeau has experienced robust growth while EIU has not. SEMO offers a solid education for less money. Cape Girardeau is a bustling little city while Charleston seems to be withering on the vine. Missouri seems to have figured out how to do public higher education. Why not Illinois? - A guy - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 4:58 pm: Demo, who knew?!? lol. Juvy, It would appear that all sides have had to curtail their deep desires and settle for something less than they hoped for. You and some others appear to be “angry” no matter which way things go. I’ve been watching this for quite some time very closely. I think even Willy would suggest to you that he didn’t “nail this”. Nobody “nailed this”. If it gets through the process (and I hope and pray it does), it will be because a small patch of common ground has been found. One might hope that we would collectively encourage that kind of effort and achievement to continue. But then you read comments like yours and realize that being unhappy is what makes you happy. We could use a lot less of your brand of cheerleading and pronouncements of who “nailed” what. No one nailed anything. - SAP - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 4:58 pm: Authorize CPS to levy additional property tax. I can’t think of a better way to get Rahm Emanuel and Karen Lewis to rush into each other’s embrace. Strange bedfellows indeed. - A guy - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 5:02 pm: == Rahm Emanuel and Karen Lewis to rush into each other’s embrace=== Now there’s a fundraiser. Who wouldn’t pay a lot to see that? lol - Illinois Bob - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 5:04 pm: @honeybear =Dr. Scamp, don’t bother engaging Bob.= I guess when you can’t defend your position, you kill the debate. I used to think you were better than that. I guess I was wrong. - Scamp640 - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 5:05 pm: @ Former hillrod. Yes, Missouri has figured it out. The State of Missouri provided over 41% of the funding to operate Southeast Missouri State University. Here is a chart showing where SEMO got its funding for FY2016: http://www.semo.edu/budget/graphs.html Not even Chicago State University relies on the state for that much of its support. See what happens when the state supports higher education? You get affordable college for young people. It is really, really simple to figure out. It is so simple that even the folks from Missouri have figured it out. Why can’t our “smart guy” governor and his republican supporters like Illinois Bob do the same? - illinois Bob - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 5:08 pm: @illini = I got both my degrees in the social sciences from the UofI and have been able to survive in the real world for 45 years.= Ahh that explains it. I know how you think now and why you fear debate. When I want to figure how a social science major thinks, I start with the mind of an engineer, then remove all reason and accountability. LOL (with apologies to “As Good As It Gets”) - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 5:09 pm: ===I think even Willy would suggest to you that he didn’t “nail this”.=== I am serious. Please don’t speak for me. Thanks. (Very hunky… Tips cap to - Augie - and - Juvenal -) - A Guy - I’ll let my words speak FOR me. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 5:13 pm: …and humbly too… LOL! “My words”… lol - Formerly Known As... - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 5:17 pm: =why he compromised on things he shouted for over a year we should never compromise on= Remember to look at both the =give= and the =get=. A temporary budget that keeps revenue, cuts and reform on the table for negotiation? That’s a =draw=, and only a temporary one. The first balanced budget of any kind in years? That’s a =win= for Rauner. Pension reform? That’s a =win= for Rauner, the GOP and some Dems. CPS pension pickup? That’s a =win= for Chicago area members and some Dems, but not all. Allowing Chicago to choose whether or not to raise property taxes in order to pay for their own debts, rather than the state funding a =bailout=? That’s a =draw= at worst, possibly a =win= for Rauner since his voter base is not in Chicago and Chicago Democrats will be the ones choosing taxes and cuts. - Chris - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 5:19 pm: @a guy: “hope that we would collectively encourage” I thought that had been turned into a dirty word, ‘collectively’. Might want to rephrase. - illini - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 5:24 pm: Thanks for responding Bob, but I am still not going there. I know where our past discussions have gone. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 5:27 pm: ===But then you read comments like yours and realize that being unhappy is what makes you happy. We could use a lot less of your brand of cheerleading and pronouncements of who “nailed” what. No one nailed anything.=== The Raunerites and Rauner will be voting for and signing thibgs they railed and railed against. That will happen because ignoring… “Do the Doable”… wasn’t “Shaking up Springfield” Your cheerleading, - A Guy - of welcoming the Squeezing the Beast and lying to social services by not paying them by the Rauner Administration. You felt it was ok. I’ll show you where. This is me speaking for me. It’s also not inventing anything. Doing the doable and governing and listening to Jim Edgar doesn’t make me any smarter or understanding anything outside of the realities of governing. So… Structured roll calls and signatures against millions of “negative” legislation they will now support isn’t the best way to be seen. The reality of this all, “shaking up Springfield” is really decimating everything possible until “doing the doable” IS the last option. - Last Bull Moose - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 5:31 pm: If this passes, we avoid immediate collapse of key functions.With no additional revenue, the financial position of the State after the election will be worse than today. Madigan may be hoping to lose some seats so he does not have a super majority. Then Rauner has to propose a tax increase or watch the state implode. - Arthur Andersen - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 5:31 pm: Demo, you’re a lucky guy. I couldn’t get into that program. ACT/GPA too low. I snuck into Business instead. To the Post-RNUG, do you think the “Pension Reform” to come will be CTPF only or will “someone” try to extend it to the other funds? - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 5:45 pm: I do want to add this… if I could. These past few days, I’m greatly encouraged and doing the doable isn’t the status quo, but recognizing a governor wields significant power and working in concert to find common ground and orchestrating with the General Assembly many important policy and governmental wants can be achieved, and they can be achieved without any hostages hurt… or any taken at all. I want all parties to succeed, then Illinois will get better, but only if all recognize that doing the doable isn’t about winning or defeating anyone or anything, but shaping and nurturing Illinois within the existing governing parameters. This is me, talking for me. This is also me understanding these last 16 months were putting way too many things in front of many doable things, and hurting too many people… and that is the shame all bare. OW - RNUG - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 5:47 pm: -AA-, Pension “reform” for just Chicago saves the state zero. I assumed Rauner wants it for the state funds. - Illinois Bob - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 5:54 pm: @illini Geez, I was just kidding you. LIGHTEN UP FRANCIS!LOL - Responsa - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 5:59 pm: Interesting thread. But I’m still trying to figure out what Chucktownian is trying to accomplish here. - illini - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 6:05 pm: Bob - sorry if I misinterpreted your comment. But every roomate I had in college was in engineering or the sciences. Three got PhDs and another three stopped with their MS. So I know how to reason and communicate with the engineering mind set. And trust me, half of my former roomates are even more “liberal” than I am. Figure that. - Norseman - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 6:06 pm: AA & RNUG, the one thing I know for sure is that the lawyers are just giddy to get another payday at the expense of state taxpayers (you can thank Bruce and GA) and employee groups. - Mama - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 6:13 pm: - RNUG - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 4:21 pm: Mama, et al, “I’m guessing if they go with the Cullerton bill of forced choice between two alternatives that lacks “keep what you have”, it will be found unconstitutional. If they include that “keep” option and possibly one of the previous partial buyout proposals, it will probably be constitutional … but may not save much, if any, money. I’ve also got some doubts about the legality / tax treatment of the partial buyout. It will most likely pass IRS muster if the buyout amount is equal to or less than the amount of the employee contributions. If it were to exceed that amount, I’d be will to bet a large sum the IRS would not go along with it. Given that limitation, I don’t think many people would opt for it. “Whatever they pass, I hope it includes objective consulting on the financial ramifications of such a decision.” == RNUG, objective consulting on the financial ramifications of such a decision is doubtful since it will help the workers to figure out that selling one’s pension package for a 401K is a bad idea. - Norseman - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 6:17 pm: === … a 401K is a bad idea. === Ask those who checked their 401K over the last couple of days. - bull47-59 - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 6:31 pm: the state can’t pay my pension cost! I’ve paid into my pension for years. cps had to have their own pension, contracts, etc. will cps help pay my pension cost, will Chicago give us in the south help for our schools? who cut this deal? sure Chicago keeps idoc alive but at what cost? - wordslinger - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 6:53 pm: –The first balanced budget of any kind in years? That’s a =win= for Rauner.– You say words, yet they don’t mean anything. How is that the backlog of bills was cut in half after 2010, before Rauner, if revenues did not exceed operating expenditures, including full pension payments? The math isn’t tough. Did the state sell a community college public TV signal to the FCC for a billion or something, one of your many confused fact-free assertions? - Joe M - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 7:11 pm: Let me get this right. Illinois is going to: - Use a good chunk of 12 months of revenue to fund things for 6 months. - Not pay down any of the $9 billion backlog the State owes - Not make the annual $10 billion or so actuarial pension contribution - Not pay any of the $110 billion pension debt. - Only fund FY 16 higher ed at 30%. What they got is all there is for FY 16. - - Only fund FY 16 social programs at a similar amount - Rely on a property tax increase (Chicago) after everyone has been saying a property tax freeze - Rely on more unconstitutional pension reform Unfortunately this is for now, better than no budget and no money. But at the end of the 6 months Illinois will be more broke and in worse shape than we are now. - JS Mill - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 7:12 pm: =It seems like a fair and reasonable start to me, especially if the state someday gets all local school districts to pay the pensions for teachers. That would be huge progress if it ever comes to pass.= I am green on that so long as: 1)CPS state aide is based on the GSA Formula. 2) NO BLOCK GRANT. 3) No CPPRT cut off of the top. Onlt the standard formula cut. 4) Same with all other Grants- No off of the top percentage, just their regular alotment based on the same formula the entire rest of the state follows. 5) Early Childhood funding is based on a competitive grant and not a huge off of the top cut. 6) No special deals, just the same formula or competitive app for everything and the same accounting oversight. IF CPS can handle that deal, I support Cost Shift or the CPS pension pick up. - northernwatersports - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 7:27 pm: All this chatter is ridiculous! So much said about how to spend, where to spend it…blah, blah, blah…. Almost no mention of revenue!!?? If the revenue questions are not answered at the same time as the spending that so many want, the same dynamics of the past 18 months will rise again, and we will return to square 1. This stop gap stuff is just a Band-Aid on an amputation. I don’t really care anymore about which program or service is more worthy than any other… If we don’t get GA members, AND RAUNER, locked into a vote on revenue, all this is just chatter and not worthy of any more breath. Sorry…just sayin’ - Help me understand: - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 7:58 pm: This has nothing to do with other state grants that would have been in the budget, i.e. grants for capital for building improvements and the like, correct? - RNUG - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 8:07 pm: -Mama-, One of the pension “reform” bills introduced this year DID require financial consuling (don’t remember the number and I’m not home to look at my cheat sheet) … and I believe at the time I praised the author for including that. So it could happen. - Me too - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 8:37 pm: Well this was supposed to be moving by 11 a.m. guess we are humped. T.I.I. - Team Warwick - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 9:00 pm: Great comments on this. Thanks to everyone. Enjoyed reading them. while they look only to the election, let me put something else on the radar. it takes about two years for ill-decided financial machinations (done to remedy insufficient planning) to work there wsy into audit oversight negative reports of noncompliance, state and federal. We ate 18 months into this, so you'’ll start to see those time bombs go off as we near the two year mark. - Just Me - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 9:58 pm: Reminds me of the CTA bailout in 2007. That legislation gave the CTA more state funding, but also required the city council to raise a tax within the city to get it. Downstate legislators wanted a guarantee that city taxpayers were going to step up too. - Chucktownian - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 10:05 pm: My major point is that EIU is being blamed here for many things outside its control. I’ve been in higher education for 30 years and have a bit of expertise on these things. I have worked for and received advanced degrees from research institutions and taught at several different regional teaching institutions in three states. One of the challenges facing regional teaching institutions is the blurring of the mission lines between regional and research institutions. Research institutions are intentionally trying to grow larger and stay larger. In order to do so, they are pursuing students they wouldn’t normally pursue and, frankly, required to water down admissions standards to get there. You can ask the folks at U of I if you want and they’ll freely admit that’s what they’re doing and their faculty is none too pleased about it. This is going on all across the country (Mizzou and the University of Arkansas come immediately to mind) and its impact on regional teaching institutions is particularly pronounced in areas where the number of high school students is dropping precipitously. Let me provide a more concrete example from my experience, last year in March EIU was well on its way to meeting its admissions target number for freshmen and U of I was more than 2K behind in reaching theirs. In order to make that number, the U of I essentially admitted all their wait list students and even went back and admitted some students they had already rejected. They made numbers and EIU didn’t. I would think my point in all of this was obvious but, apparently, reading comprehension isn’t what it used to be. - Pot calling kettle - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 10:07 pm: Sandack tweets: “Allowing Chicago to determine for itself if they want to pay more for their schools is #LocalControl . I’m for that.” Local governments having control over their taxes. A no-brainer that has taken how long for the Republicans to understand? I bet this new concepts has a very short shelf life. - 47th Ward - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 10:15 pm: ===Reminds me of the CTA bailout in 2007.=== Wasn’t that when CTA doubled the fare from $1.25 to $2.50. At the risk of dating myself, I remember when tokens cost less than a buck. A single ride Ventra card today is $3. Riders have been paying their share. - Mama - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 10:22 pm: - RNUG - Wednesday, Jun 29, 16 @ 8:07 pm: = Good to know. Thanks much. - Anon - Thursday, Jun 30, 16 @ 8:34 am: According to college data website, 9% of recent fall admissions to U of I had an ACT score between 18-23. For the individual that posted the website on Freshman class profile, you forgot to read the very first statement…These numbers show the middle 50% of freshmen admitted in Fall 2016, meaning that 25% of students were below this range and 25% were above. Some programs may have admitted at a more competitive level. Facts are tough to understand when you refuse first to even read where the facts come from. - Delimma - Thursday, Jun 30, 16 @ 8:47 am: If half of the people in the room say the temperature is too hot, and the other half say it is too cold, it is just right. I’m not sure if this is too hot or too cold, but I certainly am heartened by the idea of compromise. Especially when we haven’t had any compromise from the “too cold” side for a long time. (Apply whatever politics you want to that). - Anon221 - Thursday, Jun 30, 16 @ 8:48 am: Where we stand- http://peoriapublicradio.org/post/illinois-issues-impasse-and-damage-done#stream/0 ***** If stopgap is going to be the only way out, and we as the People of Illinois have to wait until after the General, then whatever happens today will either help those left behind these last 18 months, or pay for the 90% that had some form of funding. - Illinois Bob - Thursday, Jun 30, 16 @ 9:22 am: @illini PHDs in engineering have a different mind set than most engineers. In fact, having a PHD in engineering in most design firms is an “automatic reject” because they tend to be less practical and overcomplicate even the simplest designs. When you use partial differential equations to solve an arithmetic task, you know there’s a problem…. I’ve got an MS, and that’s a bit different. That being said, my “unofficial” survey shows that about 60-70% of engineers tend to be conservative, but engineers in academia tend to be more liberal. No surprise there. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.